Optimal selection of factors using Genetic Algorithms and Neural Networks for the prediction of students´ academic performance

In this research, we propose to use a Genetic Algorithm with an Artificial Neural Network as fitness function in order to solve one of the most important problems in predicting academic success in higher education environments. Which is to find what are the factors that affect the students´ academic performance. Also, using the same Artificial Neural Network as a predictor. To solve the problem, each individual of the genetic algorithm represents a group of factors, which will be evaluated with the fitness function seeking to obtain the optimal individual (group of factors) to predict academic performance. Then, with the same Artificial Neural Network we will classify students´ academic grades in order to predict their semester final grades. With this technique, it was possible to reduce the initial amount of 39 factors (founded in the literature) to only 8. The prediction accuracy is 84.86%.