Optimizing Curriculum Scheduling Problem Using Population Based Incremental Learning Algorithm

This paper presents a methodology for using heuristic search methods to optimize scheduling problem. Specifically, an estimation of distribution algorithm (EDA) - population based incremental learning (PBIL), has been applied to find effective arrangement of curriculum schedule of Universities. To our knowledge, EDAs have been applied to fewer real world problems compared to GAs, and the aim of the present paper is to expand the application domain of this technique. The experimental results indicate a successful application of PBIL to optimize curriculum scheduling problem.