The Integrated Centre for Agricultural Training and Experiences (CIFEA) in Molina de Segura, attached to the Regional Ministry of Water, Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Region of Murcia, has also been a state-level centre since October 2015, National Reference Centre in the professional area of Vegetable Preserves of the professional family of Food Industries.

The National Reference Centres (NRCs) are public centres for innovation and experimentation in vocational training. They are located in different autonomous communities and, due to their facilities and track record, are considered to be of excellence, both in the development of research activities and in the teaching of courses.

“ training and qualifying many of the professionals who today carry out their activity in important companies distributed throughout the Region of Murcia “

This centre, which started its activities in 1970, has always been closely related to the Professional Area of Vegetable Canning, training and qualifying many of the professionals who today work in important companies throughout the Region of Murcia and the rest of Spain.

Initially, canning foremen were the professionals trained, to later implement the Second Grade Vocational Training in the speciality of Vegetable Canning.

In 1996, after a thorough remodelling of the Centre and it was transferred from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheriesto the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia., Specific Vocational Training courses have been re-established, developing, up to the present time, various Intermediate and Higher Level Training Cycles in the Professional Families of Food Industries and the Environment, opening up their specialisation to other important agri-food subsectors in this Region such as the meat, dairy, olive oil, fish and confectionery sectors, among others.

By Royal Decree 871/2015, of 2 October, a National Reference Centre is created in the professional area Vegetable Preserves of the professional family of Food Industries, created through the qualification of the already existing Integrated Centre for Agricultural Training and Experiences (CIFEA)of Molina de Segura.

Informative video

Our functions

The functions of the National Reference Centre, in the professional area of Vegetable Preserves, as established in Royal Decree 229/2008, of 15 February, which regulates the National Reference Centres, are:

  1. To observe and analyse the evolution of the productive sector at national level, in order to adapt the training offer to the needs of the labour market.
  2. Collaborate with the National Institute of Qualifications in updating the National Catalogue of Professional Qualifications.
  3. To experiment with training innovation actions linked to the National Catalogue of Professional Qualifications in order to validate their suitability and, where appropriate, to develop contents, methodologies and teaching materials in order to propose their updating.
  4. Collaborate and, where appropriate, carry out the necessary studies to draw up certificates of professionalism, as well as participate in the implementation, custody, maintenance and updating of their assessment tests.
  5. To study the suitability of facilities, equipment and teaching resources, to develop training organisation and management techniques and to propose the application of quality criteria, indicators and devices for training centres and entities.
  6. Collaborate with the most representative employers’ and trade union organisations, as well as with the Joint Commissions set up under state-level sectoral collective bargaining.
  7. Establish collaborative links, including the management of virtual networks, with regional qualifications institutes and agencies, universities, technology and research centres, Integrated Vocational Training Centres, companies and other entities to promote research, innovation and development in vocational training, as well as to observe and analyse the evolution of scientific and technological bases related to training processes or to the reference sector.
  8. Participate in international programmes and initiatives in its field of action.
  9. Contribute to the design and development of technical and methodological improvement plans aimed at teaching or training staff, experts and professional counsellors, as well as assessors involved in professional competence recognition processes.
  10. To collaborate in the procedure for the assessment and accreditation of professional competences, in accordance with the development of article 8 of Organic Law 5/2002, of 19 June, on Qualifications and Vocational Training.
  11. To perform any other similar functions assigned to them in relation to the purposes described above.

Our facilities:

The Centre has a total of 17,500 m2 located in the town centre of the municipality and has, among others, the following facilities:

  1. Vegetable canning pilot plant.
  2. Food industry laboratory.
  3. Tasting room-sensory analysis laboratory.
  4. Conference room with capacity for 90 attendees.
  5. Cold storage and electricity classroom.
  6. Meat and pre-cooked meats room.
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