Ontology-based course recommendation

Abstract

This paper addresses the challenge of course selection for students by using the domain knowledge available within course descriptions to improve the decision-making process. The decision-making process for selecting courses is complex, influenced by intrinsic motivations, such as personal interests and academic goals, and extrinsic factors, including career prospects and peer recommendations, shape students’ preferences. This paper demonstrates the potential of semantic networks, and ontologies in particular, to match student preferences with available courses. By developing an ontology tailored to the Master’s program in Business Information Systems at FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, we explore the ability of ontologies to refine the precision, relevance, and customization of course recommendations, thereby empowering students to make well-informed decisions.