Combined course programmes generation in multi-agent e-learning system using policy-based HTN planning

As integration processes have been intensified in the area of higher education, they should be supported by information technologies. A Combined Course Programmes (CCP) generation mechanism based on HTN planning was developed for a multi-agent system, managing the distributed e-Learning environment. The limitations of HTN planning were overcome by XACML policy language, that was used for specification of preconditions. This improves the expressiveness and facilitates planning in a multi-domain environment supported by different experts. In order to improve the effectiveness of HTN planning in the multi-domain hierarchical environment, a domain refinement technique was designed. Its efficiency gains were confirmed by experiments.