From creating premier trip experiences to optimizing every day life in thriving cities, UCF is acknowledged as a frontrunner in training that powers industries that improve the human expertise.
For six consecutive years, the Rosen College of Hospitality Management ranks No. 1 in the nation for Hospitality and Tourism Management Programs, in line with ShanghaiRanking’s 2025 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects. Rosen College additionally ranks No. 2 globally, a two placement rise from 2024. For the primary time, UCF rose 5 spots from final yr to rank No.1 in the nation for Transportation Science and Technology, in addition to No. 19 internationally — with a powerful 28 spot enchancment.
As curiosity in journey, leisure and tourism continues to climb worldwide, the demand for professionals who perceive the right way to handle locations, design experiences and lead hospitality organizations has by no means been larger. Rosen College has confirmed, as soon as once more, it produces extremely certified graduates and impactful analysis to fulfill this demand.
“Our global and national rankings reflect the work of an extraordinary community,” Rosen College Dean Cynthia Mejia says. “Our faculty, staff and students are deeply committed to advancing hospitality and tourism education, and their dedication elevates our academic programs and supports an industry that continues to grow in scale and complexity.”
Transportation is a vital issue for financial progress and offers social advantages, and UCF’s main placement in this tutorial space alerts the college is contributing to nationwide and international developments in this space. Smart and Safe Transportation Lab Director and Pegasus Professor Mohamed Abdel-Aty says the transportation science and know-how rating is a testomony to the efforts of the scholars and college in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering (CECE), which is in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, and related fields.
“This [ranking] highlights the sustained effort of our top faculty, postdoctoral scholars and students, and the impactful research and innovation led by our transportation team,” Abdel-Aty says.
Preparing Students with Industry for Industry
The hospitality and tourism sector stays one among America’s most dynamic employers. Federal projections present that the U.S. leisure and hospitality business will add greater than 822,000 new jobs between 2023 and 2033. This means the sector will account for practically one in each eight new jobs created nationwide over the subsequent decade, in line with the U.S. Department of Labor.
Central Florida stays on the heart of this progress the nation’s most visited vacation spot (2024, Visit Orlando), permitting Rosen College to ship hands-on, utilized studying training that’s troublesome for different packages to compete with. Orlando particularly serves as a dwelling classroom for Rosen College college students, together with the new Universal Epic Universe theme park at Universal Orlando Resort.
Every Rosen College pupil has direct entry to main employers by finishing three internships that immerse them in actual operations and put together them to navigate the calls for of an business outlined by tempo, scale and innovation. Many graduates now serve in management roles at organizations akin to Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Destinations & Experiences, Marriott, and Loews Hotels, amongst many others.
Research Insights that Inspire Innovation
Mordor Intelligence estimates the U.S. hospitality market projected to surpass $313 billion by 2030. And with EHL Insights anticipating international journey and tourism anticipated to develop at a median annual price of 5.8% via 2032, analysis that anticipates shifts in the business has by no means been extra important. Rosen College’s college analysis international tourism and hospitality developments, specializing in competitiveness, vacation spot resilience, lodging analytics, sustainability and traveler habits. Their work, printed in main journals, guides business leaders via altering visitor expectations, financial pressures and technological shifts — bridging analysis and observe to organize for future challenges
“Our faculty research is at the heart of Rosen College’s success,” says Rosen College Associate Dean for Research Manuel Rivera. “They create insights that inspire innovation in hospitality and tourism, helping our graduates and industry partners shape exceptional experiences for guests worldwide.”
Education That Has a Broader Economic Impact
Transportation methods immediately impression the financial and social progress of our society, with 87% of public transportation journeys connecting riders to work alternatives and native companies, in line with tech-based transportation service firm Via. The Transportation Group at UCF has a number of interdisciplinary college who contribute to varied domains together with synthetic intelligence, cyber-physical methods, knowledge analytics, clever methods, planning, resilience, visitors engineering and security.
(*1*) CECE Chair Kevin Mackie says.
UCF presents a master’s in civil engineering with a track in transportation systems engineering. The program presents a powerful focus in transportation methods, visitors security and visitors sign safety. Under the management of Abdel-Aty, CECE’s Future City Initiative, which explores technological developments to raised serve city residents, has led to quite a few interdisciplinary collaborations on and a master’s track in smart cities.
Research That Improves and Saves Lives
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates 39,345 folks died in visitors crashes in 2024. These losses underscore the significance of bettering transportation and roadways — and function reminders of why the Transportation Group at UCF is dedicated to their work.
Abdel-Aty’s latest work contains investigating roadway crash knowledge utilizing superior modeling approaches and construct instruments that the DOT and different transportation businesses can make use of to handle street security challenges.
The transportation group at UCF options quite a few internationally and nationally acknowledged college members who’ve acquired funding for the work by entities such because the DOT, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Central Florida Expressway Authority, U.S. National Science Foundation. They’ve additionally acquired assist from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) as a part of the National Highway Cooperative Research Program (NHCRP).
Among these distinguished college contributing to nationwide developments is Associate Professor Naveen Eluru, who’s at the moment targeted on transportation planning analysis that shall be used in federally mandated long-range transportation forecasting procedures.