A hybrid algorithm of Harmony Search and Bees Algorithm for a University Course Timetabling Problem
This paper is concerned with the development of a new hybrid metaheuristic approach for solving a practical university course timetabling problem in Vietnam. Our hybrid method is a combination of Harmony Search (HS) algorithm and the Bees algorithm. The proposed method has been tested on 14 real-world data instances and compared with some other metaheurisitic approaches, which are Variable Neighborhood Search, Tabu Search and Bee Algorithms. Numerical results indicate the effectiveness of the hybrid HS – Bees algorithm over the others for the specific problem.
Keywords: Bees algorithm, harmony search, university course timetabling
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ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Khang Nguyen
Khang Nguyen received B.S degree and M.S degree in Computer Science from HCMC University of Science, Vietnam in 1996 and 2001. Currently, he is a Ph.D candidate in Computer Science in HCMC University of Science, Vietnam. Since 1996, he has been a lecturer at Faculty of Information Technology, HCMC University of Science, Vietnam. His research interests include timetabling problem, optimization problem. Khang Nguyen is co-author over ten papers in international conferences and national conferences.
Phuc Nguyen
Phuc Nguyen reveived B.S degree and M.S degree in Computer Science from HCMC University of Science, Vietnam in 2007 and 2011. Since 2008, he has been a lecturer at Faculty of Electronic and Informatics, Cao Thang Technical College, Vietnam. His research interests in timetabling problem.
Nuong Tran
Prof. Dr. Nuong Tran received Ph.D degree in Mathematics from University of Warsaw, Poland in 1989. Currently, she is a lecturer at Faculty of Mathematics, HCMC University of Science, Vietnam. Her research interests include timetabling problem, optimization problems, optimization global. Nuong Tran is co-author over thirty papers in international journals and international conferences.
Khang Nguyen
Khang Nguyen received B.S degree and M.S degree in Computer Science from HCMC University of Science, Vietnam in 1996 and 2001. Currently, he is a Ph.D candidate in Computer Science in HCMC University of Science, Vietnam. Since 1996, he has been a lecturer at Faculty of Information Technology, HCMC University of Science, Vietnam. His research interests include timetabling problem, optimization problem. Khang Nguyen is co-author over ten papers in international conferences and national conferences.
Phuc Nguyen
Phuc Nguyen reveived B.S degree and M.S degree in Computer Science from HCMC University of Science, Vietnam in 2007 and 2011. Since 2008, he has been a lecturer at Faculty of Electronic and Informatics, Cao Thang Technical College, Vietnam. His research interests in timetabling problem.
Nuong Tran
Prof. Dr. Nuong Tran received Ph.D degree in Mathematics from University of Warsaw, Poland in 1989. Currently, she is a lecturer at Faculty of Mathematics, HCMC University of Science, Vietnam. Her research interests include timetabling problem, optimization problems, optimization global. Nuong Tran is co-author over thirty papers in international journals and international conferences.
