Polytechnic University Commencement in Orlando Highlights Academia-Industry Link and 60th Anniversary

The Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico (PUPR) celebrated the commencement ceremony of its Orlando Campus on July 9, 2026, marking a milestone in its 60th anniversary. The graduation of a select group of new professionals in engineering, business administration, and technology reaffirms the campus as a hub where academia connects with industry, transforming knowledge into real opportunities. The ceremony, held at 550 N. Econlockhatchee Trail, highlights the deliberate growth strategy of preparing innovative, competitive engineers and business professionals ready to lead in an environment driven by technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation. These graduates strengthen the competitiveness of companies and contribute to the economic development of Florida and Puerto Rico.

The Orlando Campus responds directly to Goal #4 of the University's 2022-2027 Strategic Plan: expansion, positioning, and strategic alliances. In meetings with the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC) and chambers of commerce, the university identified market priorities including specialized continuing education, STEM talent development, advanced entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, aerospace, construction management, and talent recruitment. Its academic offering and alliances connect students from day one with opportunities in the business and industrial world.

"At the Polytechnic University, academia connects with industry to turn knowledge into opportunities. On our 60th Anniversary, the Orlando Campus demonstrates that our educational model transcends borders and prepares leaders ready to compete, drive digital transformation and move the economy of the future," said Ernesto Vázquez Martínez, President of PUPR.

In recent months, the Orlando Campus formalized five strategic memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with the Hispanic Metro Florida Chamber of Commerce, the Puerto Rico College of Engineers and Land Surveyors (Florida Chapter), the Office of Senator Rick Scott, the Central Florida Contractors Association, and SVG Institute. These alliances open pathways to continuing education, internships, and employment opportunities in collaboration with BMA Group, replicating the University-Industry-Government linkage model that has distinguished PUPR since its founding.

"Each alliance we sign in Central Florida opens a concrete connection for our students and graduates. Our objective is to consolidate the Orlando Campus as a benchmark for STEM and business education, with real opportunities for employment, internships, applied innovation and professional development for the community," said Dr. Lilliam Román, Director of the Orlando Campus.

The graduation comes one year after the inauguration of the Aerospace Engineering Laboratory at the Orlando Campus, a $2.9 million state-of-the-art facility featuring a jet engine for testing, an autonomous vehicle research laboratory, and supersonic and subsonic wind tunnels. The lab also includes advanced flight simulators, 3D printers for aerospace prototypes, aeronautical modeling and simulation software, and materials and aerodynamics testing facilities, positioning Orlando as a key node for Florida's aerospace industry.

Dr. Adriano Parisi, then Director of the Florida Campuses, stated at the lab's inauguration in April 2025: "This state-of-the-art laboratory is a center of discovery, a platform for developing ideas and a compelling testament to our commitment to education, research and progress. It demonstrates that when vision meets determination, great things happen."

The Orlando Campus leverages its bilingual profile and academic flexibility, with a trimester calendar and in-person, hybrid, and online modalities. This allows active professionals to continue developing without disconnecting from the labor market. The institution's accreditations include a 4-star rating in the QS Stars system and designation as a National Center of Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the NSA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

This graduation is part of the university's transition toward what it calls the University of the New Century: a scalable educational platform where academia connects with industry, knowledge is transformed into opportunities, and leaders who will move the economy of the future are prepared.