Thank you to all participants of the PATAT Conference 2022. We hope you enjoyed the conference and that you found the time to get in touch with your colleagues and had many inspiring discussions. We hope we can meet you in Copenhagen in 2024.

We highly value your feedback, in order to improve future conferences! May we kindly ask you to complete our conference evaluation survey. The survey should not take you longer than 5 minutes. Thank you for your time!

The 2020 silver anniversary edition of PATAT was originally intended to be held by KU Leuven in Bruges (Belgium), but had to be postponed until 2022 in light of the pandemic. The conference will now instead be held in the equally beautiful city of Leuven (Belgium), the university's home town, and will run from Tuesday 30th August until Friday 2nd September 2022. The venue will be the Irish College, which promises to offer the perfect setting for researchers and practitioners to reflect, present and discuss on the substantial progress made by the timetabling academic community over the last twenty-seven years as well as to anticipate where we might be headed throughout the coming decades. To complement this historical reflection and anticipation of the future, a range of exciting plenary talks will be given by experts in established areas of timetabling as well as newly emerging ones. We therefore wish to extend a warm invitation to anyone with an interest in timetabling or related problems to participate by submitting a paper by March 23rd 2022.

Some topics of interest for the conference include, but are certainly not limited to, the following: timetabling problems (e.g., educational timetabling, timetabling in transport, employee rostering, sports timetabling, timetabling in healthcare), timetabling algorithms (e.g., mathematical programming, heuristic search, metaheuristics - Evolutionary Computation, Simulated Annealing, Tabu Search, Ant Colony Methods, hyper-heuristics, machine learning, matheuristics, constraint-based methods, algorithm portfolios, parallel/distributed computing, multi-objective/multi-criteria approaches), foundational/theoretical studies (e.g. complexity issues), timetabling tools and applications, and any optimization issues related to timetabling. 

A special track is planned, dedicated to the International Timetabling Competitions on University Course Timetabling (ITC 2019) and Sports Timetabling (ITC 2021) 

We are pleased to announce that the invited speakers who were confirmed in principle for the 2020 edition have agreed, travel restrictions permitting, to deliver plenary talks at the 2022 edition:

• Celso C. Ribeiro, Computer Science, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brazil
• Sigrid Knust, Institut für Informatik, Universität Osnabrück, Germany
• Andrea Schaerf, Polytechnic Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Udine, Italy
• Deepak Ajwani, School of Computer Science, University College Dublin, Ireland
• Peter Nightingale, Department of Computer Science, University of York, UK

We look forward to welcoming you to Leuven where you will be free to sample some of the finest versions of the very best things life has to offer: Belgian chocolate, beer and fries!

Submission Guidelines

All papers must be original and not simultaneously submitted to another journal or conference. PATAT 2022 invites authors to submit their work in one of three categories:

• Full papers describing significant, original and unpublished work.
• Extended abstracts of up to 3000 words describing preliminary results, incomplete papers or practitioners’ experiences, for people who wish to give a talk but do not want to submit a full paper.
• System demonstrations, abstracts of up to 1000 words describing the major properties and contribution of implemented and/or commercial timetabling systems.

Submission Format

All papers must be written in English and submitted as a PDF file. The authors should use the templates provided:

The length of the paper should fulfill the requirements stipulated for each category. The conference volume uses theLecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS) format. Authors should use the LNCS templates provided at the Springer website.  

• The LateX2e version (preferred) (template)
• The Microsoft Word (> 2007) version (template)

All papers must be submitted as a PDF file. No other format will be accepted!

All submissions will be peer reviewed by at least three members of the programme committee. Accepted papers will be invited for an oral presentation at the event and included in the PATAT 2022 proceedings after they have been presented.

Journal Special Issue

Authors of all three categories will be invited to submit extended versions of their original work as full papers for consideration to be published in a Special Issue of an Academic Journal.

Important dates

• Paper Submission Deadline ** Strict! **              23 March 2022
• Notification of Acceptance                                 6 May 2022
• Early Registration Closes                                    ** To be confirmed **
• Conference                                                        30 August - 2 September 2022
• Social Day ** Bruges! **                                     3 September 2022

Details can be found on the conference website:http://www.patatconference.org/patat2022/

This issue includes:

1.      Timetabling stream at IFORS 2020, in Seoul, South Korea, June 21-26, 2020

2.      KU Leuven invites you to PATAT 2020, to be held in beautiful Bruges (Belgium), August 25-29 2020

3.      Call for NATCOR bursaries

4.      EURO PhD schools

 

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1.      Timetabling stream at IFORS 2020, in Seoul, South Korea, June 21-26, 2020

IFORS 2020, in Seoul, South Korea, June 21-26, 2020: call for abstracts for Timetabling Stream

We are pleased to announce that the Euro Working Group on Automated Timetabling EWG PATAT is organising a stream Timetabling within the Area Scheduling, Timetabling and Project Management at the 22nd Conference of the International Federation of Operational Research Societies - IFORS 2020, in Seoul, South Korea, June 21-26, 2020 (www.ifors2020.kr).

CALL FOR PAPERS AND SESSIONS

We invite you to submit an abstract to one of the following sessions:

Session                                              Session chair                    Session code    

Patient admission scheduling     Troels Martin Range       35bd462

Conference timetabling               Geoffrey De Smet            f0cd3fb8

Shift design                                      Nysret Musliu                   8a347970

Personnel timetabling                  Pieter Smet                       e164f859

Educational timetabling               Sanja Petrovic                   0f4cf313

If you wish to submit your abstract please specify the appropriate session code in the stream Timetabling and enter the requested details about the paper.

Abstracts must be written in English and contain no more than 1500 characters (no formulas or mathematical notation are allowed). Each attendee is allowed to present ONE paper at the conference.

Please note that the submission MUST be done by the person who will present the paper and will be shown as first author. No change to the first speaker will be allowed later.

Submit an abstract: https://www.euro-online.org/conf/ifors2020/

Interested in organizing one or more additional sessions? Please send us an email (given in the signature).

IMPORTANT DATES

Abstract Submission Deadline January 17, 2020

Abstracts Accepted/Rejected Deadline January 31, 2020

Early-bird Registration Deadline February 28, 2020

Speakers Registration Deadline March 1, 2020

This is the first IFORS conference to be held in Asia since the 15th conference in China 20 years ago. It is thus an exciting opportunity to bring together operations researchers from the field in Asia, where it has experienced vigorous and rapid growth, with colleagues from all regions of the world. 

The conference includes a Wednesday-afternoon social event where you can choose among a variety of tours, such as the Demilitarized Zone tour, where you can witness the history of Korea’s division, the Industrial Tour to Korea’s leading ICT companies, as well as other programs that will explore K-POP and Hallyu, K-Beauty and K-Culture, and show you the most historic buildings and markets in the city. 

The timing of the meeting in late June assures that it will be warm and sunny.

 2.     PATAT 2020 Call for papers

In more ways than one, 1995 was a momentous year: a small startup by the name of Amazon sold its first book online, the first ever Wiki was launched, and the Java programming language was announced to the world. But far more importantly (some might say), the year also played host to the very first PATAT conference in Edinburgh.

The 2020 edition of PATAT will therefore mark its silver anniversary. Organized by KU Leuven and to be held in beautiful Bruges (Belgium) August 25-29, 2020, PATAT 2020 promises to provide the perfect setting for researchers and practitioners to reflect on the substantial progress made by the timetabling academic community over the last twenty-five years as well as to anticipate where we might head throughout the next twenty-five. To complement this historical reflection and anticipation of the future, a range of exciting plenary talks will be given by experts in established areas of timetabling as well as newly emerging ones. We therefore wish to extend a warm invitation to anyone with an interest in timetabling or related problems to participate by submitting a paper by January 30, 2020. Some topics of interest for the conference include, but are certainly not limited to, the following: timetabling problems, timetabling algorithms, timetabling applications, and any optimization problems elated to timetabling.

We are proud to announce that the following professors will deliver plenary talks:

• Celso C. Ribeiro, Computer Science, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brazil
• Sigrid Knust, Institut für Informatik, Universität Osnabrück, Germany
• Andrea Schaerf, Computer Science, University of Udine, Italy
• Deepak Ajwani, School of Computer Science, University College Dublin, Ireland
• Peter Nightingale, Department of Computer Science, University of York, UK

Paper/abstract submission instructions are available at https://easychair.org/cfp/PATAT2020.

Please submit your paper/abstract by January 30, 2020.

PATAT 2020 will take place together with the COnfiguration and SElection of ALgorithms (COSEAL) workshop August 23-25, a few days before the conference begins. Further information regarding plenary speakers, paper submissions as well as the scientific and social program are available at the conference website (http://patatconference.org/patat2020/).

We look forward to welcoming you to Bruges where you will able to sample some of the finest versions of the very best things life has to offer.

 

3.      Call for NATCOR bursaries

NATCOR, a National Taught Course Centre in Operational Research, delivers taught courses in the UK to PhD students on a number of different topics in OR. Please see the NATCOR website for more details: http://www.natcor.ac.uk/

EURO is pleased to announce the availability of a limited number of bursaries for PhD students to attend NATCOR courses. https://www.euro-online.org/web/pages/1568/natcor-bursaries

*Heuristics & Approximation Algorithms, Nottingham, 20th-24th April 2020
*Convex Optimization, Edinburgh, 1st-5th June 2020
*Forecasting & Predictive Analysis, Lancaster, 21st-25th September 2020

The NATCOR course fees and accommodation (typically bed and breakfast) will be funded by EURO for successful candidates.

Applicants must be PhD students, from one of the EURO member countries or studying in one of the EURO member countries. (see https://www.euro-online.org/web/pages/1457/current-member-societies). Applicants must have good English Language skills as all NATCOR courses will be in English. Preference will be given to students in their first or second years but all are welcome to apply. Preference will also be given to applicants who have not previously received support from EURO for NATCOR or other PhD schools.

To apply for a bursary, candidates from a EURO member society country, or studying in a EURO member society country, should submit a zip file containing the application form, their curriculum vitae (including their academic track record), a letter outlining their motivation to attend, and a letter of recommendation from their supervisor to https://www.euro-online.org/awards/natcor2020/registration.php. Applicants should declare on their application if they are receiving any additional support from their PhD funding body or other sponsor.

Important Dates
Deadline for applications:  January 20, 2020
Notification of acceptance:  February 4, 2020

 

4.      EURO PhD schools

EURO PhD School on MCDA/MCDM

6-17 July 2020, Ankara, Turkey

http://mcdm.metu.edu.tr/

Deadline for Application: February 1, 2020

Call for Application

In order to submit your application, please email the following information to mcdmss20@metu.edu.tr: 

* a motivation letter

* CV with photo

* a recommendation letter from a scientific advisor, students who are in need of financial support will also apply for support and the advisors should verify this need.

* the application form filled with your information 

You will receive a confirmation of application submission. 

The deadline for the submission of applications is February 1, 2020. The results of the selection process will be announced by February 15, 2020. If accepted, you will receive an e-mail with instructions for registration. 

The number of participants will be limited to 50.

 

EURO PhD School on Data Driven Decision Making and Optimization

10-19 July 2020, Seville, Spain

https://congreso.us.es/epsdata/

Deadline for Application: January 15, 2020

To apply to the EURO PhD School on Data Driven Decision Making and Optimization the candidates should be from a EURO member society country, or studying in a EURO member society country. Preference will be given to applicants who have not previously received support from EURO for other PhD schools.

PhD students need to apply to be admitted to the EURO PhD School. The candidates will be required to have basic knowledge of Mathematical Optimization, Operations Research or Statistical Data Analysis. Applications should be submitted via email to tecnico-imus@us.es, with the subject “Application to EURO PhD School in Seville”. For the application the following documents are needed:

* Curriculum Vitae from the applicant

* A letter of motivation from the applicant to attend EURO PhD School

* Recommendation letter from the PhD supervisor

Those applicants admitted to the EURO PhD School will be automatically considered for a scholarship to partially cover the fees of the EURO PhD School.

The applications will be reviewed by the scientific committee. The committee will consider (amongst other criteria): the excellence of the applicants, the area they are working in, and the benefit to the PhD student of attending the EURO PhD School. The applicants will be notified by February 1, 2020.

The 12th International Conference on the Practice and Theory of Automated Timetabling (PATAT-2018) took place between 28th and 31st of August, 2018, at the TU Wien, Vienna, Austria. The conference brought together more than 80 researchers and practitioners in all aspects of computer-aided timetable generation and related issues. The PATAT-2018 program extended over 3 days and featured presentations which represent the state-of-the-art in automated timetabling: there were 4 plenary talks, 2 invited tutorials, 22 full papers and 27 extended abstracts. The program included plenary talks by Johannes Gärtner (Ximes GmbH), Louis-Martin Rousseau (École Polytechnique de Montréal), Hana Rudová (Masaryk University), and Pascal Van Hentenryck (University of Michigan), and invited tutorials by Jeffrey Kingston (University of Sydney) and Andrea Schaerf (University of Udine). The detailed conference program and proceedings of PATAT-2018 can be found in the conference website (http://patatconference.org/patat2018/). As was the case in previous PATAT conferences, a post-conference volume of selected and revised papers will be published in Annals or Operational Research. 

The PATAT-2018 conference was a great success and the participants enjoyed the invited/regular talks and various networking opportunities provided during the conference.

The conference was sponsored by Vienna Center for Logic and Algorithms (VCLA), EURO working group on Automated Timetabling (EWG PATAT), Eventmap, MCP, Vienna Convention Bureau and TU Wien (DBAI Group and CD-Lab for AI and Optimization for Planning and Scheduling). 

Conference web page: http://patatconference.org/patat2018/ 
Conference proceedings: http://patatconference.org/patat2018/proceedings/