Tabu search for large scale timetabling problems

Tabu search techniques are adapted to timetabling problems. The objective is to reduce the number of conflicts due to courses taking place simultaneously but involving common students or teachers, or requiring the same classroom. In addition to these classical constraints, what must also be taken into account are the grouping of students (courses taken by a large number of students have to be repeated several times during the week), compactness and precedence requirements and geographical constraints.