Miami, October 2, 2026 / PRNewswire / -- Florida International University ( FIU ) announced the establishment of the FIU Cruise Excellence Center ( FIU Cruise Excellence Center ), led by the university's Chaplin School of Hotel and Tourism Management ( Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management ). This project aims to address the most important challenges and opportunities in the global cruise industry, while also transforming FIU into an academic hub for research, talent development, executive education, and innovation in the cruise industry.
At the time of this announcement, the Center's Cruise Executive Advisory Committee held its first meeting. This advisory committee is composed of cruise line presidents, chief executive officers, chief financial officers, and other senior management personnel, with members coming from cruise companies as well as institutions that cover tourism distribution, destinations, maritime services, and other key aspects of the cruise ecosystem.
FIU Principal Jeanette M. Nu ñ ez states: "The establishment of the FIU Cruise Excellence Center marks the inception of a historic collaboration in Miami. Miami is known as the world capital of cruises, which also provides an opportunity for FIU to collaborate with an industry that is of great significance to both the local region and the global economy. This center establishes strong connections between the expertise and industry leadership in various fields of FIU, contributing to talent development, producing meaningful research, and making contributions to the future of the cruise industry."
The university authorities stated that members of the advisory committee will assist FIU in identifying high-value industry challenges and transforming university knowledge into results of practical value to the industry. They will also help to determine research priorities, strengthen academic programs, expand opportunities for experiential learning and internships, develop executive and professional education programs, and enhance connections between students, faculty, and the global cruise industry.
The initial strategic focus of this center is to integrate academic research, education, and industry collaboration, while also working to open up more opportunities for FIU students. Whether through degree programs or professional micro-certificates, industry insights will help students prepare for meaningful careers, cultivate the next generation of industry leaders, and empower them to make an impact on a global stage.
FIU The dean of Chaplin College of Hotel and Tourism Management, Michael Cheng, stated: "The cruise industry is an extremely complex global sector, and the issues that shape its future are increasingly crossing traditional disciplinary boundaries. Chaplin College will serve as the academic leader of this center, connecting the appropriate expertise and disciplinary resources of the entire university with the challenges posed by industry leaders, thereby creating more relevant research, richer curricula, and providing students with practical experience that will help them navigate the boundaries they will face in their future careers."
Building a Global Cruise Research Agenda and Future Talent Pipeline
An important goal of the FIU Cruise Excellence Center is to establish a research system with distinct characteristics, independence, and an academic foundation around the cruise industry, as well as to create a pipeline for talent development. FIU indicates that the institution has already established an academic foundation in cruise education, including a bachelor's program in cruise management and a master's degree program in hotel management with a focus on cruise operations.
Potential research and innovation priorities include: future cruise ship labor force, changes in consumer demand, emerging technologies and artificial intelligence, environmental responsibility, crew welfare, destinations and management tourism strategies, operational performance, logistics and supply chains, ports and destinations, guest experience, as well as economic and geopolitical forces that affect the global cruise industry.
FIU, an outstanding executive from a cruise line based at the school and chairman of the Cruise Line Executive Advisory Committee, Larry Pimentel, stated: "The goal of this collaboration is to become a partnership that truly gets work done, rather than just an advisory committee in name only."
Pimentel added, "Our opportunity is not just to establish another academic center, but to create a resource platform that is relevant, independent, connected, and practical for the global cruise industry – one that brings together industry experience, academic rigor, and the next generation of talent."
The university authorities stated that their long-term goal is to establish a sustainable connection between a large research-intensive university and the global cruise industry, in order to identify future skill requirements, strengthen the curriculum system, expand internships and experiential learning opportunities, develop executive education and micro-certificates, and create clearer pathways for educational and career progression throughout the cruise ecosystem.
For more information, please visit the FIU Cruise Excellence Center website. The school authorities stated that photos and B-roll materials can be obtained through Dropbox, and interview opportunities can also be arranged if necessary.
Media contact: Ivonne Yee - Amor; Phone: (305) 919-4500; Email: [ email protected ]; Website: news.fiu.edu; Account: @ FIU
