Online Course

Timetabling Basecamp
Level 1

Ready to turbocharge the way you timetable? Then you’re in the right place!

Join us for a series of live and interactive workshops exploring timetabling best practice. You’ll problem-solve in real-time under the guidance of our experts, meet fellow timetablers and share expertise. Get ready to take your timetabling career to new heights.

Polish your processes

You’ll analyse your timetabling processes and discover how to improve them using our tried-and-tested frameworks.

Become a pro at negotiation

Forever chasing colleagues for timetabling data, or dealing with competing requests for rooms? You’ll learn nifty negotiation tactics to help you tackle objections and conflicts, and get people onboard.

See how others timetable

Understand how and why timetabling processes differ between universities so you can find fresh perspectives and discover new ways to tackle your timetabling challenges.

Make a positive impact

Learn how to solve problems and think strategically – so you can make a big difference to your team and your university.

Is this course for me?

This is a great course for new-ish and experienced timetablers alike. Groups are small and the learning is highly personalised – with plenty of time to put what you’ve learned into practice using your own timetable data. For people who are still fairly new to timetabling, this course offers a chance to get to grips with new skills, and for more seasoned timetablers an opportunity to gain fresh perspectives.
“I highly recommend if you’re looking to improve ways of working”.
"I highly recommend the Timetabling Basecamp training course for both new and experienced members of staff, especially if you are looking to improve your current ways of working. As well as sharing knowledge and best practice, there were many other advantages and new practices which we will continue to use going forward."
Catherine Richards, Service Development Senior Officer – Timetabling, University of South Wales

Join us

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Overview

Why learn with us?

Small cohorts

You’ll be in a small, supportive group with no more than 12 learners. So we can adjust content to your needs and give you the time and space to network, share experiences and problem-solve together.

No death by PowerPoint

No one wants to sit through boring slides. We believe in a hands-on, active approach. It’s all about helping you find solutions that work for you, not preaching to you about how it “should” be done.

Learning that fits round you

The course is spread out over five weeks and taught online – giving you space to fit your learning in around your busy role.

We know our stuff

Our experts have timetabled themselves in institutions large and small and have used their collective 50 years of experience to support timetablers from more than 25 UK universities.

We’re CPD accredited

Bag 45 CPD points toward your own Continuing Professional Development when you complete the course.

No fiddly software to install

Everything is hosted on a cloud-based, secure platform that doesn’t require you to download a thing.

The details

10 x half days over 5 weeks
45 CPD points
£1499 + vat
Next start date: March 2026
Course Timetable

See what's in store

Day 01
  • Meet your fellow course attendees.
  • Discuss different approaches to timetabling (part 1)
  • An introduction to curriculums and their links to timetabling
Day 02
  • Understand how curriculum patterns impact timetabling
  • Learn the difference between hard and soft timetabling constraints and how to work with them
Day 03
  • Learn how to manage competing requests from academics and other stakeholders
  • Discover ways to interpret and use data effectively
Day 04
  • Discuss the different approaches to timetabling (part 2)
Day 05
  • Learn how to interpret space utilisation data
  • Learn how to strengthen relationships with colleagues who feed into the process.
Day 06
  • Understand the different elements of the timetabling process and cycle (part 1)
Day 07
  • Understand the different elements of the timetabling process and cycle (part 2)
  • Learn how to collaborate with key departments and in meetings
Day 08
  • Understand the importance of a scheduling plan and create your own
  • Learn how to challenge existing timetabling processes and present ideas for change
Day 09
  • Discover how to solve complex timetabling problems and present your ideas with confidence
Day 10
  • Understand how to apply what you’ve learned to real-life situations in your role
  • Create an action plan you can take away and implement

Dates for your diary

The next Timetabling Basecamp Level 1 kicks off in February 2024.
  • Day 1: Tuesday 27th February
  • Day 2: Thursday 29th February
  • Day 3: Tuesday 5th March
  • Day 4: Thursday 7th March
  • Day 5: Tuesday 12th March
  • Day 6: Thursday 14th March
  • Day 7: Tuesday 19th March
  • Day 8: Thursday 21st March
  • Day 9: Tuesday 16th March
  • Day 10: Thursday 28th March
Assessments due: Friday 12th April 2024
    • Each workshop is from 9am to 1pm.
    • We do need you to be able to make all of these sessions live. If you can’t, get in touch and we can tell you the next course dates.
    • When you sign up, we’ll send you calendar invites for all of these so you don’t need to add them yourself.

Meet your facilitators

Amy Wareing

Amy has over 15 years experience in higher education timetabling and exam scheduling and have been a key participant of multiple projects. She enjoys creating straightforward solutions to complex problems. Amy is keen to share her knowledge and upskill timetabling teams so they are able to manage complex scheduling and problem solving

Lara Taffer

Lara has over 5 years of experience working in the higher education sector, specifically within a Russel Group university, where she was focused on evolving, managing, and delivering the central timetabling service. She enjoys problem-solving and driving change where it will help institutions enhance student and staff experience, teaching delivery and institutional efficiency.

Louise Smith

Being a Timetabling Basecamp alumna herself Louise knows her way around our courses. She's joining us this time as a facilitator to bring her wit and passion for data to our workshops. She's an experienced timetabler, data analyst and consultant. Always ready for a challenge, Louise is a force to be reckoned with. 

Poliana Tavares

With 15 years of timetabling experience Poliana is keen to share her own knowledge with others in the sector. A wizard when it comes to all things curriculum she loves a challenge as is a well praised team manager. She's a key member of the Escentral facilitators team and has been contributing to the success of out timetabling course portfolio as well as the Academy. 

Samantha Kouchakji-Allen

Sam has over a decade of experience in higher education timetabling, with half that decade spent managing a timetabling team. She consults on a wide range of timetabling and space planning projects, with a keen focus on developing strong stakeholder relationships in order to promote best practice and positive change within the timetabling environment. She enjoys problem solving and working collaboratively to create robust timetabling processes.

Sarah Wood

Sarah brings over 15 years of experience in higher and further education, and has specialised in timetabling for 13 of those. She spent 5 years leading a large timetabling team and is passionate about service improvement, development, and building collaborative relationships. Sarah works closely with clients and the team, to drive success and facilitate positive change.

Take your timetabling skills to new heights!

I have questions 🙋

All the best people do! Our course FAQs should be able to answer them for you, with information on ways to pay, discounts, refunds and more.

Fancy a sneak peek of the course?

Not quite what you’re after?

We also run The Timetabling Academy for superstar timetablers just like you – it’s the place to make timetabling friends, find solutions to your challenges and share scheduling knowledge!


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