Ivy Tech, Saab Create Partnership

Ivy Tech Community College-Lafayette is partnering with Saab, Inc. to help employees at their West Lafayette facility reach new milestones in their education and career advancement. Participants in Saab’s STEP Tuition Assistance Program, offered through Ivy Tech’s Achieve Your Degree initiative, have completed their Technical Certificates and are now continuing toward associate degrees in Industrial Technology.

Since Summer 2024, thirteen Saab employees have enrolled in the program, with seven completing their Technical Certificates and four currently working toward their credentials.

The program allows Saab employees to pursue college credentials with no upfront tuition costs, creating a seamless pathway from hiring to degree completion. This innovative partnership enhances employee skills, increases retention, and supports Saab’s long-term investment in building a highly skilled, future-ready workforce.

“Saab’s partnership with Ivy Tech Community College–Lafayette through the STEP Program is a powerful example of how students can gain real-world aerospace experience while pursuing their education, and help shape the future of manufacturing,” said Robert Ulibarrí, Vice President of Aerospace Systems at Saab, Inc. “Through our Saab Training Academy, employees earn 18 accredited college credits, build long-term career pathways, and continue their education through our tuition assistance program. Together, we’re building a stronger workforce that benefits employees and keeps U.S. manufacturing innovative and competitive.”

Through the partnership, Saab employees gain industry-recognized skills in advanced manufacturing and industrial technology that support upward mobility, wage growth, and leadership opportunities within the company.

“This partnership is an incredible example of what can happen when education and industry work hand in hand,” said Dr. Aaron Baute, Chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College–Lafayette. “Saab is demonstrating what it means to invest in its people—and in turn, strengthen our community’s workforce.”

The Achieve Your Degree program is a statewide Ivy Tech initiative that enables employers to offer tuition deferral and direct billing, removing financial barriers for employees who want to advance their education and career opportunities.

For more information about Ivy Tech’s Achieve Your Degree program, visit ivytech.edu/AYD.