A regulatory algorithm (RGA) for optimizing examination timetabling

Abstract

We describe the regulatory algorithm (RGA), a two dimensional extension of standard evolutionary algorithms. Its possibilities are shown by an application to the problem of optimizing timetabling for exams with real data from the University Duisburg-Essen (Germany). The results of the RGA application show that the room allocation problem for written exams can be satisfactory solved in a few minutes. In addition we compared the RGA with a standard GA. The RGA was significantly better in all experiments; in particular the GA could not fulfill all distribution demands in contrast to the RGA.