Universal Destinations & Experiences, the company behind some of the worldβs most immersive entertainment experiences across global theme park and resort destinations and other new ventures, and the ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½, one of the most innovative universities in the country, introduce the Universal School of Experience Leadership & Innovation. Through a $10 million investment, the school is a catalyst to help develop future industry leaders, ushering in the next era of themed entertainment.
βThe Universal School of Experience Leadership & Innovation unites creativity, technology and the practical application of business, marketing, and guest service to develop tomorrowβs leaders in themed entertainment and immersive experiences.β β Mark Woodbury, chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences
The first-of-its-kind Universal School of Experience Leadership & Innovation is housed within the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, ranked No. 1 nationally. With the addition of Universalβs new school and the collegeβs School of Hospitality Leadership, students now have access to a dual-school model that brings together experience-focused education with business strategy, operations, and service leadership.
βThe Universal School of Experience Leadership & Innovation unites creativity, technology and the practical application of business, marketing, and guest service to develop tomorrowβs leaders in themed entertainment and immersive experiences,β says Chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences Mark Woodbury.
βΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ was built to power whatβs next for our students, for industry, and for the State of Florida,β ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ President Alexander N. Cartwright says. βThis collaboration with Universal Destinations & Experiences represents our mission at its best, creating an environment where students are learning in direct connection with the people and ideas shaping the future of immersive experiences.β
A First-of-its-Kind Model for Experience Education
The Universal and ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ partnership will also support research through a new Hospitality Technology Lab, designed to be a creative sandbox for students to collaborate, test ideas, and gain practical hands-on experience working alongside ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ faculty, Universal professionals, and industry stakeholders. Students will gain timely insight that reflects industry needs as part of their education. Built around innovation and interdisciplinary teaming, the lab embeds coursework, student projects, and faculty research in a shared space, equipping graduates with both current skills and the adaptability to lead in a constantly evolving technology ecosystem.
The new schoolβs research will build on ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½βs existing strengths, applying university expertise to one of the worldβs most dynamic industries. Focus areas for teaching, learning, and research will include:
- Service robotics and human-centered approaches to shape guest and employee interactions
- AR and VR simulation technologies for training, operations, and immersive environments
- AI and digital twins for optimizing and personalizing the guest experience
This work extends a decades-long partnership between ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ and Universal rooted in collaboration and shared success. For more than 20 years, Rosen College has served as a key talent pipeline for Universal, with thousands of graduates contributing across its parks, experiences, and operations, alongside hands-on learning opportunities like the ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½/Universal Creative Lab.
βTogether with ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ we have opened doors for students and helped strengthen our industry with valued talent β and the next chapter will be even better,β Chief Administrative Officer of Universal Destinations & Experiences John Sprouls says. βWeβre creating a distinctive academic home that will expand pathways into fulfilling and dynamic careers.β
βRosen College has long been a global leader in hospitality education, and this next step reflects how our industry is evolving,β says ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ Rosen College of Hospitality Management Dean Cynthia Mejia. βBy strengthening our relationship with our longtime partners at Universal Destinations & Experiences, we are creating a first-of-its-kind two-school model that blends creativity, technology and leadership, preparing students to lead the future of guest experiences.β
Pegasus Partners: Scaling Impact Through Collaboration
As ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½βs first entertainment-sector Pegasus Partner, Universal Destinations & Experiences joins a group of industry leaders working with the university to solve real-world challenges, accelerate discovery, and strengthen the workforce talent pipeline. Universal is also the first Pegasus Partner to enter into a master research agreement with ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½, enabling collaboration at scale and unlocking new opportunities for applied research.
The Pegasus Partners program offers opportunities for select partners to engage across the university in ways that create meaningful value for both organizations. That engagement includes talent development and recruitment, shared research projects, joint ventures and collaborations, strategic philanthropy, and co-location at ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½.
As the first Pegasus Partner since the start of , ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½βs $3.5 billion campaign to accelerate its next era of impact, Universalβs commitment is a powerful model that combines philanthropy and strategic industry investment to drive innovation, expand opportunity, and fuel shared success.
