FAQ - We are looking to implement a computerised timetabling system. What is currently available?

Answer

Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) published a report in 1997, 'Central Timetabling By Computer: A Review Of Existing Information'. Although it doesn't give an up to date picture of what's available, it gives an overview of the issues around computerised timetabling systems. The Automated Scheduling Optimisation and Planning (ASAP) research department at the University of Nottingham looks specifically at timetabling solutions. This department may be able to provide up to the minute information about current packages as well as advice about a package they have developed themselves called Optime.

Another source of information on computerised timetabling systems is the Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association (UCISA) web page. UCISA manage a directory which indicates which management information systems packages are in use in various institutions across the UK. This is a useful directory and you can search if to find institutions/contact people using particular software.

Computerised timetabling systems currently available include:

Facilities CMIS This outputs to several formats including ASCII so you can put timetables on the web. It claims full XML and IMS compliance, which is good when planning web output and interaction/interoperability with other existing MIS services. University College London and Sheffield University run Facilities CMIS.

Celcat This system outputs to ASCII text so that you can put timetables on the web. It costs about £1200 per copy (single user). Timetables are also entered into central S+ (below) to indicate institutional room availability. This is used by the medical faculty of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and comes recommended by the academic subdean who is responsible for the scheduling of students (academic.subdean@ncl.ac.uk).

OSMIS This system is popular with medicine and nursing and is designed by Ancomm. It includes facilities for managing personal training records and on-line Special Study Module selections (direct by students). The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Dundee and the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of York currently use OSMIS.

Syllabus Plus (S+) This appears to be the most frequently used system. The University of Newcastle upon Tyne uses 8 major installations but it can be expensive (about £15K per major installation). Scientia markets an output to web interface. Herriot Watt University in Edinburgh also use S+.

Schedule Expert There is a free 'training video' that you can access over the web. We don't know anyone who is using it currently.

ADESOFT ADESOFT produce educational timetabling software. Again we don?t know anyone who is using it currently.

Some institutions run on-line student selection of SSMs or 'essential senior rotations' or the equivalent of your EMS via web-based databases which the students initially fill in themselves and then it tells them timetables etc.

Author: This FAQ was written by Dr Megan Quentin-Baxter and does not reflect an official endorsement by the LTSN or any other organisation. Any questions or comments can be sent to: megan@medev.ac.uk

Last updated: 04 July 2011