Universal Orlando Resort has always invested in education, and put its best foot forward in classrooms at all levels, from investing in work-based education in Orange County High Schools to creating an outreach program for UCF students to make invaluable connections within the themed entertainment industry.
In a first-of-its-kind program, sixteen UCF students were invited by Universal Creative for a behind-the-scenes look at the themed entertainment industry and how Universal Orlando Resort operated from a creative and engineering standpoint.
“Universal has gone above and beyond what I had originally proposed for the class,” said Peter Weishar, founding director of UCF’s Themed Experiences program. “They’re showing us projects in progress like Epic Universe. They’re talking to us transparently about challenges they had and things they would have done differently. That kind of access is invaluable.”
This program, and the partnership with Universal Orlando Resort, gives students a better understanding of what goes into creating some of the biggest and best theme park attractions in the world – from engineering to park operations, guest services and experience, ride design, and more, the disciplines that Universal Creative employs and teaches are many and varied. This class offers excellent insight into theme park operations at the creative level, and students like Karlyn praise it for the make long-lasting and impactful networking opportunities it provides.
Universal is investing in this program – training a new generation and finding a place for us,” said Karlyn. “They’ve brought in professionals that have 30 years of experience creating theme parks all over the world. The exposure to those professionals is incredible. It’s an industry of mentorship.”
UCF has reported that Universal Creative has hired nearly 40 percent of the students who have participated in the UCF Creative Lab since its inception in 2023, a division of the College of Arts and Humanities at UCF. With two courses currently being offered for students looking to immerse themselves in the academic side of the themed entertainment industry, UCF plans to expand this program to cover additional disciplines and give students and even broader and more inclusive education on this emergent academic field.
Students can currently choose from a graduate-level spring course or a six-week summer course open to graduate and upper-level undergraduate students from any accredited college or university, making this course – and the opportunities held within – accessible to countless students and creatives looking to explore the rich and fulfilling world of creative, logistical, and engineering positions available at Universal Orlando Resort.
While this course is the opportunity of a lifetime, up to twenty students will be selected for each term, which makes this class highly competitive. Application and a portfolio submission will be required, and students must sign a non-disclosure agreement to protect Universal’s interests.
For more information about the Creative Lab and the Themed Experience at UCF program, those interested can check out the official UCF page for the program [here]. Information is also provided for students who are not currently enrolled in a college or university seeking to enroll in this course as a transient student, which can be found on the page linked above.
