Abstract
This research addresses the complex and often inefficient process of academic planning and scheduling, particularly concerning the allocation of rooms for educational activities. The current system, which relies on forecasted student numbers, is found to result in disturbingly low realised efficiency.
Key Findings and Problems with Current Practices
The academic scheduling process involves many stakeholders (students, lecturers, administration, management), but current practices often fail to fully consider the interests of all stakeholders.
Interviews revealed that stakeholders care about factors beyond just room-fitting capacity, such as walking distances, a sense of community, and having suitable classrooms for the education at hand.
The effectiveness of current room allocations is not measured and often unknown, and existing practices are inefficient.
Proposed Solutions and Research Contributions
The study proposes and designs new methods to optimize room allocation, focusing on both efficiency and effectiveness (i.e. quality), and presents a new governance model.
1. Efficiency Improvement (Dynamic Allocation):
The research introduces the concept of dynamic room allocation, which uses feedback on actual student attendance (measured occupancy and utilisation) to rearrange timetables. The theoretical model shows this could improve efficiency by up to 30%.
2. Effectiveness/Quality Improvement:
The research designs methods to allocate rooms based on factors important to stakeholders:
- Minimizing walking distances for students to contribute to a sense of student community.
- Allocating the most suitable rooms for the type of lecture, using a new model to measure room suitability.
3. Governance Model:
The combination of measuring efficiency and improving quality requires a new approach. The research proposes a new governance model and operational framework for educational institutions to adapt their support organisation to these changing needs.
In essence, the research advocates for moving beyond simply fitting students into rooms and instead adopting a more dynamic, data-driven, and quality-focused approach that accounts for the real-world needs and preferences of all academic stakeholders.
Key Findings and Problems with Current Practices
The academic scheduling process involves many stakeholders (students, lecturers, administration, management), but current practices often fail to fully consider the interests of all stakeholders.
Interviews revealed that stakeholders care about factors beyond just room-fitting capacity, such as walking distances, a sense of community, and having suitable classrooms for the education at hand.
The effectiveness of current room allocations is not measured and often unknown, and existing practices are inefficient.
Proposed Solutions and Research Contributions
The study proposes and designs new methods to optimize room allocation, focusing on both efficiency and effectiveness (i.e. quality), and presents a new governance model.
1. Efficiency Improvement (Dynamic Allocation):
The research introduces the concept of dynamic room allocation, which uses feedback on actual student attendance (measured occupancy and utilisation) to rearrange timetables. The theoretical model shows this could improve efficiency by up to 30%.
2. Effectiveness/Quality Improvement:
The research designs methods to allocate rooms based on factors important to stakeholders:
- Minimizing walking distances for students to contribute to a sense of student community.
- Allocating the most suitable rooms for the type of lecture, using a new model to measure room suitability.
3. Governance Model:
The combination of measuring efficiency and improving quality requires a new approach. The research proposes a new governance model and operational framework for educational institutions to adapt their support organisation to these changing needs.
In essence, the research advocates for moving beyond simply fitting students into rooms and instead adopting a more dynamic, data-driven, and quality-focused approach that accounts for the real-world needs and preferences of all academic stakeholders.
| Original language | English |
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| Qualification | Doctor of Philosophy |
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| Supervisors/Advisors |
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| Award date | 5 Nov 2025 |
| Place of Publication | Enschede |
| Publisher | |
| Print ISBNs | 978-90-365-6941-5 |
| Electronic ISBNs | 978-90-365-6942-2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 5 Nov 2025 |