Products » Event

Timetabling and Scheduling Software

Event is deployed within the course timetabling implementation process and used to centrally organise and manage institutional course timetabling. It is currently used by UK institutions with centralised and distributed timetabling procedures.

Event is an automated curriculm timetabling system allowing modeling, measurement of flexibility and central management of all aspects of the course event allocation process. The events can be, for example, lectures, tutorials, laboratories, demonstrations or simply room and conference bookings. The use of Event will provide substantial aid to the timetabler, especially through the use of research informed automation features which can dramatically reduce the amount of time involved in the timetabling process.

There are a range of advantages in using Event:

• A shorter time is required to prepare institutional timetables
• Increased flexibilty allows students and staff to make best use of rooms
• The user friendly multi-user environment promotes good working relationships
• The use of leading edge techniques ensures timetables are the ‘best’ possible
• Fast scenario planning allows for an enhanced understanding of the impact of change

Event integrates all aspects of timetable resource planning and management within post-secondary institutions:

• Lecture and room scheduling
• Non-curricular event scheduling
• Constraint modelling and reporting
• Scenario and 'what if' planning

Event employs a highly graphical user interface which provides the user with a powerful combination of intuitively-based contextual information and quick access to all required functionality. The most relevant and immediately useful information is displayed at once using a series of interactive grids and graphical indicators, with full interactivity to either examine for further analysis or make modifications quickly and easily.

Event can either be used to manage the entire timetabling process within an institution or form part of a wider solution where appropriate. Event is a Strategic Modeling Environment and is principally used to model the timetable in terms of key data entities, hard and soft constraints and automation criteria. Importantly, this allows an understanding to be reached of what is possible and practical for an institution. For example, it may be preferable to increase flexibility in terms of curriculum delivery at the expense of space usage. It also allows scenarios to be considered as part of an institution's strategic plan. So, for example, 'what ifs' can be considered in relation to the estate layout and size, student numbers, curriculm structures and staffing requirements.

Event is implemented within an overall consultancy framework to ensure institutions receive the best from automated timetabling. Conclusions drawn help direct how the implementation should proceed in terms of centralised versus decentralised approaches.

The software acts as a repository for both data and tacit knowledge. Understanding of the latter is crucial in allowing individuals to work collectively in constructing departmental or institution-wide timetables which are both workable and flexible. The understanding of the flexibility allows for reworking of the timetable solution in response to operational and strategic change.