A Sequential Three-Stage Integer Goal Programming (IGP) Model for Faculty-Course-Time-Classroom Assignments

Developing university schedules that could take into account factors such as faculties’ preferences to courses, timeslots, and classrooms, in a timely fashion while being unbiased and meeting university requirements, is a hurdle in many universities around the world.This paper exploits the use of threestage integer goal programming (IGP) technique to solve the university scheduling problem, as an expansion of an earlier two-stage model attempt conducted by the authors. Segmenting the problem into three stages enabled reaching a complete schedule in a timely manner and a high satisfactory level among faculties, while meeting all university requirements. The output of every stage is used as an input to the following stage, and goals are satisfied using the priority sequence approach according to their order of importance based on some college, department, and major regulations and requirements.