Saint Leo University Partners with IBM to Embed Digital Fluency Across All Majors
Initiative launches fall 2026 as part of university’s strategic effort to align classroom learning with workforce needs
Saint Leo University is partnering with IBM to integrate digital fluency and AI-driven competencies into every major, giving students a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving workforce. The comprehensive initiative will connect classroom learning to workforce expectations while fostering industry-aligned skills.
Beginning in fall 2026, all students will build a digital portfolio demonstrating competency in data analytics, cybersecurity, AI fundamentals, digital collaboration, and emerging technologies within their disciplines. Students will use IBM’s SkillsBuild platform to complete AI-focused training modules and earn industry-recognized micro-credentials, which will be integrated into their coursework.
“We’re going to make every single Saint Leo graduate digitally fluent, future-ready, and ready to connect to industries in Tampa,” said Dr. Jim Burkee, president of Saint Leo University.
The IBM partnership is a key component of Burkee’s broader growth strategy for Saint Leo, focused on digital fluency, workforce alignment, and long-term institutional stability. Six months into his tenure as the university’s 12th president, he outlined that vision as keynote speaker at the Tampa Bay Chamber’s Circle of Influence event on February 27. Addressing more than 100 business leaders, Burkee described a university undertaking a strategic restructuring while investing in academic programs and industry partnerships to prepare graduates for meaningful careers in an ever-changing world.
“We have had to take a hard look at ourselves, and I think that’s healthy,” Burkee said. “The institutions that will succeed in this next generation are not the ones that deny change. They are the ones who are going to embrace it, and they’re going to do it with discipline.”
In addition to the IBM initiative, Burkee has prioritized rebuilding online and adult learning programs through the Lionova Institute, re-engaging the military community, and expanding employer partnerships throughout the Tampa Bay region. The university also is enhancing the residential student experience and modernizing its governance and data systems, he said.
To further strengthen career-connected learning, Saint Leo is embedding internships into the academic pathways for all students. The university is expanding collaborations with regional employers to provide more hands-on learning opportunities, including co-designed curriculum, project-based learning, capstone experiences, and structured employer feedback to better align academic programs with workforce needs.
“Saint Leo is positioning itself to be the most workforce-oriented university in the region,” Burkee said.
Burkee also reaffirmed Saint Leo’s longstanding commitment to military members and their families, calling service to the military “part of our DNA.” The university is exploring emerging technologies, including drone applications, to better prepare graduates for careers in defense and related industries.
He added that the university remains committed to mission-driven, values-centered education. As the only Catholic university in the Tampa Bay area and the oldest in Florida, Saint Leo’s academic programs are rooted in the Benedictine tradition, which emphasizes ethical leadership, service, and community.
“In a world that seems increasingly transactional, we think it matters that we're producing graduates who stand for something,” Burkee said. “That’s what those Catholic values mean. Skill plus character. Competence plus values.”