Disney Co-Brands with Carnegie Mellon University and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich

I see that The Walt Disney Co. is teaming with Carnegie Mellon University and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich to a form a research and development lab on both campuses. The sites will be headed by staff from the respective schools and researchers from Disney.

The spaces will be open to students, faculty and consultants from the three organizations. Disney will fund the project for Disney's theme parks, television networks and animation studios. I have great respect for all three of these organizations. Like most, I visited Disneyland as a young person and have been a fan of many of their movies. I have known about the great work at Carnegie Mellon University during my career in higher education. I had the pleasure of being a guest lecturer a year ago at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich.

Will the Disney brand enhance the image and reputation of these outstanding research universities?