The Faculty Assignment Problem in Higher Education: A Shapley Value-Based Approach

This paper explores the Faculty Assignment Problem in Higher Education with a focus on the Hellenic Open University (HOU), a Distance-Learning Institution. Addressing the challenge of assigning faculty members to teach diverse modules, the paper introduces a Shapley Value-based approach from cooperative game theory. This methodology balances individual faculty expertise across various cognitive subjects, ensuring a more equitable and effective teaching assignment process. It is particularly relevant given the complexity of evaluating over 15,000 candidates for adjunct tutor positions at HOU, where injustices and objections may arise due to the large pool of applicants. The proposed approach, by considering the strategic importance of individual expertise in less represented subjects, aims to enhance the overall quality of education in multidisciplinary and diverse educational programs.