Developing an efficient optimization of course-lecturer distribution timetabling using transportation algorithm: A case study of Federal Polytechnic Offa

The institution course timetabling problem (ICTP) is a multidimensional assignment-problem that varies from course timetabling, class-teacher timetabling, student scheduling, teacher assignment, and classroom assignment. Many researchers have attempted to solve problems as related to timeslot but neglecting areas of course allocation to lecturers. The paper presented a course allocation and distribution model for lecturers based on their fields of interest and qualification to a transportation algorithm which was aimed at optimising the performance of lecturers in each course. It also evaluated overall efficiency of lecturers without exceeding the maximum workload. The performance of the course-to-lecturer allocation of the electrical/electronic engineering department, federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State was collected using simple questionnaire. The information obtained from the questionnaire was used to test the Algorithm developed. The result showed that using the developed algorithm for course distribution, the performance is 76.98% and 82.1% for the first and second semesters respectively. This showed that using the algorithm for allocation of courses to the lecturers of any department can be done based on input data without exceeding the recommended workloads of each cadre. This improved the quality of teaching, save time, and resources compare with manual methods. The study therefore recommended that future work should include practical distribution among technologists, sharing the excess workload to a particular lecturing grade as the case may be.