Title: A Novel Hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm for Real-World University Examination Timetabling Problems

Speaker:  Dr. Souad Larabi Marie-Sainte, Assistant Professor in the Information Technology Department, KSU

Abstract: The university examination timetabling problem is one of the most important scheduling problems that numerous educational organizations have sought solutions to manage their exams by assigning this event to particular timeslots, rooms and/or invigilators. This problem is an NP-complete problem due to the number of students, courses and the number of conflicting constraints that must be considered in the resolution. Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) technique is a common intelligent method that has been successfully applied to many hard combinatorial optimization problems. In this study, I propose a new hybrid approach based on Particle Swarm Optimization algorithms to solve real world examination timetabling problem.

Speaker's Bio: Dr. Souad Larabi Marie-Sainte is an assistant professor at the Department of Information Technology in the College of Computer and Information Sciences at King Saud University. Prior to joining KSU, Dr. Souad worked as an associate researcher in the department of Computer Science at Toulouse1 Capitole University, France. She also supervised undergraduate and master students at this department. She earned her PhD from the Computer Science department of Toulouse1 Capitole University, France, in the area of bio-inspired algorithms in June 2011. She holds two MSc degrees; the first one in Mathematics, Computing, Decision and Organization at Paris Dauphine University, France and the second in Computing, Mathematics and Applications at Sorbonne Paris1 University, France. Dr. Souad graduated from USTHB University in Algeria in the area of Operational Research. Her research interests include Combinatorial Optimization, Heuristics, Meta-heuristics, Artificial Intelligence and especially Bio-inspired algorithms applied to multidisciplinary domains, Bioinformatics and Algorithms Analysis and Design. She has written some papers and attended various specialized international conferences.

Date/Time: Tuesday, April 22th 12-1pm

Location: Maria Auditorium, F50 in Building 6 (Broadcast to Room 2079 in CCIS Building 31)