The Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico (PUPR) held its commencement ceremony for the Orlando Campus on July 9, 2026, celebrating a select group of new professionals in engineering, business administration and technology. The event, part of the university's 60th anniversary, underscored the campus's role in linking academia with industry to transform knowledge into real opportunities. The ceremony took place at the Orlando Campus facilities, located at 550 N. Econlockhatchee Trail, and highlighted a deliberate growth strategy to prepare innovative engineers and business professionals ready to lead in environments driven by technology, artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
The graduating class exemplifies the university's expansion goals outlined in its 2022-2027 Strategic Plan, particularly Goal #4 focusing on expansion, positioning and strategic alliances. In meetings with the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce and chambers of commerce, PUPR identified key market priorities: specialized continuing education, STEM talent development, advanced entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, aerospace industry, construction management and talent recruitment. The Orlando Campus has formalized five strategic memoranda of understanding with organizations such as 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 provide pathways to internships, employment opportunities and joint industry solutions, replicating the university-industry-government linkage model that has distinguished PUPR since its founding.
A key differentiator for the Orlando Campus is its Aerospace Engineering Laboratory, inaugurated in April 2025 with a $2.9 million investment. The lab features a jet engine for testing, autonomous vehicle research laboratory, supersonic and subsonic wind tunnels, advanced flight simulators, and 3D printers for aerospace prototypes. This positions Orlando as a key node for Florida's aerospace industry, a strategic priority for the university. According to Dr. Adriano Parisi, then Director of the Florida Campuses, the lab is "a center of discovery, a platform for developing ideas and a compelling testament to our commitment to education, research and progress."
The university's value proposition is supported by outcomes: 74% of undergraduate alumni and 79% of graduate alumni are already employed, with 86% working full time and 72% earning salaries above $45,000 annually. The Orlando Campus offers a flexible educational model with bilingual support, trimester calendar, and in-person, hybrid and online modalities. It also leverages accreditations including 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 U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The graduation marks a transition toward what PUPR calls the University of the New Century: a scalable educational platform in Puerto Rico and Florida where academia connects with industry and knowledge is transformed into opportunities. With each new alliance, laboratory and graduating class, the Orlando Campus advances its goal of becoming a recognized STEM benchmark in Central Florida and throughout the United States.
