SENA: Centro para la industria petroquímica

What SENA: Centro para la industria petroquímica does

SENA: Centro para la Industria Petroquímica is a public vocational training center operated by Colombia's Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje (SENA) in Cartagena, Bolívar, serving as the designated SENA center for the petrochemical and industrial trades across the Bolívar department. It delivers free Formación Profesional Integral across approximately 35 programs spanning petrochemical plant operation, welding, electricity, industrial painting, construction, metalwork, garment manufacturing, information technology and graphic design, alongside Labor Competency Certification (authorized by Decree 249/2004 and Decree 933/2003) and an Entrepreneurship Unit linked to SENA's Fondo Emprender seed capital program. Learners include general citizens, displaced populations, rural youth, enterprise workers, and non-hearing students, with social-program partnerships (CISP, Actuar por Bolívar, Fundación Granitos de Paz) extending reach into vulnerable segments.

The center's pedagogical stack is anchored in project-based training (formación por proyectos) executed in physical and virtual learning environments (ambientes de aprendizaje), supplemented by multimedia educational materials delivered via the Blackboard LMS (senaintro.blackboard.com), SENAVirtual for online courses, and Sofia Plus for enrollment and academic management. The SENNOVA technology and innovation system, the SGVA apprentice tracking platform, and the Agencia Pública de Empleo are integrated into the delivery and placement pipeline. Modernization of the Cartagena campus was executed between 2008 and 2010 in partnership with REFICAR and the Mayor's Office, adding new welding, petrochemical-plastic and digital training environments; the technologist program in Operation of Petrochemical Plants received qualified registration from the Ministry of National Education in 2011.

The business model is non-commercial: training and certification are provided at no cost to learners under the banner "Servicios del SENA gratis," with operations funded through SENA's national budget and parafiscal contributions (Fondo de Formación Profesional de la Industria de la Construcción - FIC). GTM is sales-led and inbound, relying on public convocatorias, SENA's official channels (website, Facebook, Twitter/X, YouTube, Instagram), the center's blog, and a network of program leaders and student representatives; the formal subdirector-led leadership structure and partnership-based enterprise engagement (REFICAR, SUPER de Alimentos, WorldTex Caribe, ACOP) drive placement outcomes rather than direct revenue.

Name

SENA: Centro para la industria petroquímica

Legal name

Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje SENA - Centro Para la Industria Petroquímica - Regional Bolívar

Website

https://cipbolivar.blogspot.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SENA Centro para la Industria Petroquímica is a public vocational training center in Cartagena, Colombia, delivering free government-funded technical education, labor competency certification, and entrepreneurship support to Colombian citizens across petrochemical, industrial, construction, and digital trades under the national SENA system.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Training Services

NAICS

Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Technical and Trade Schools (61151)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Construction & Trades Licensure (Contractor, Electrician, Plumber, HVAC CE) (EDAAALAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Occupational Safety, OSHA & Workplace Compliance Training (EDAOAMAK), Skilled Trades, Safety & Compliance Certification Prep (OSHA, HAZMAT, welding, electrical, HVAC) (EDANAIAM)

Keywords

• Vocational training services
• Petrochemical technical education
• Labor competency certification
• Workforce development programs
• Industrial skills training

Headquarters

HQ city

Cartagena

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Public Vocational Training (Free of Charge): SENA is a Colombian government institution providing free vocational and technical training to citizens. The center is entirely publicly funded through SENA's budget (Fondo de Formación Profesional de la Industria de la Construcción - FIC) and government allocations. No direct revenue is charged to learners. The center operates under the banner 'Servicios del SENA gratis' (SENA services are free).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Centro para la Industria Petroquímica provides free, publicly funded vocational and technical training programs in petrochemical plant operations, welding, electricity, construction, industrial production, metalworking, and information technology. It also administers nationally recognized labor competency certifications authorized by Decree 249 of 2004 and Decree 933 of 2003, and operates an Entrepreneurship Unit that connects learners to the Fondo Emprender seed capital program.

Product overview

SENA Centro para la Industria Petroquímica is a vocational training center in Cartagena, Colombia offering a comprehensive portfolio of education and workforce development services. The center operates as a multi-program training facility under Colombia's Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje (SENA) system. Its core offerings include Formación Profesional Integral (Integral Professional Training) with programs in petrochemicals, welding, electricity, construction, industrial production, metalworking, graphic design, and IT; Labor Competency Certification (Certificación de Competencias Laborales) authorized by government decree; and an Entrepreneurship Unit supporting business creation through programs like Jóvenes Rurales Emprendedores. The center utilizes multiple technology platforms including Blackboard LMS for course delivery, SENAVirtual for online education, Sofia Plus for academic management, and SGVA for apprenticeship tracking. Supporting programs include SENNOVA for technology and innovation, multimedia educational materials development, and industry-specific projects such as Cleaner Production and initiatives for displaced populations. The center serves the Regional Bolívar and operates from facilities in Cartagena's Pedro de Heredia sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Formación Profesional Integral (Integral Professional Training)

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,200 people trained in Safe Work at Heights in one semester across 29 companies
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• REFICAR (Refinería de Cartagena)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerREFICAR partnered with SENA and the Mayor's Office of Cartagena for the comprehensive modernization and remodeling of the Centro para la Industria Petroquímica. The project included repair and remodeling of the center facilities, construction of a new Boulevard del Aprendiz, and construction of a Petrochemical-Plastic Laboratory and auditorium. The inauguration ceremony was attended by REFICAR President Jaime Castilla, Director General of SENA Darío Montoya, and Mayor Judith Pinedo.
• SUPER de AlimentoscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough a training agreement between SENA and SUPER de Alimentos, 48 company workers were trained and certified in Competency Certification for industrial plant operations under the Total Productive Management (TPM) framework. The graduation ceremony was held at Casa del Marquez with the presence of SUPER's General Manager Juan Pablo Cippiano and Production Manager Mario Tobar.
• Actuar por BolívarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the CISP (Centro Italiano di Studi Permanenti) project for strengthening productive initiatives of displaced populations. The organization provided accompaniment to young entrepreneurs in the production and commercialization process, contributing to the consolidation of three legally established productive enterprises.
• Escuela taller de Santa Cruz de MompoxminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the CISP project for displaced populations. Contributed to the training and accompaniment process alongside SENA, providing additional expertise in artisan trades and cultural heritage preservation.
• Fundación RenacerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the CISP project for displaced populations. Participated in the training and certification process for displaced youth in the production and commercialization of artisan products.
• Fundación Granitos de PazminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 'Madres Educadoras' productive project. The foundation promoted productive initiatives for women, with SENA CIP providing training in Pedagogy and Waipe Assembly. SENA provided its sewing workshop facilities and machinery at the Manuela Beltrán school location.
• FundacolombiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer with Fundación Granitos de Paz of the 'Madres Educadoras' project. Fundacolombia contributed to the funding and coordination of the initiative that trained 28 women in Pedagogy and Waipe Assembly.
• Fondo EmprendercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFondo Emprender is SENA's entrepreneurship seed capital fund. The CIP's Entrepreneurship Unit connects successful trainees with Fondo Emprender resources to create their own businesses. The fund is a key component of SENA's strategy for the Jóvenes Rurales Emprendedores program and general entrepreneurship support.
• SENNOVA (Sistema de Tecnología e Innovación del SENA)coreTechnology or IntegrationSENNOVA is SENA's technology and innovation system that the CIP participates in. It supports applied research projects, technological development, and innovation in training processes, helping align training with industry needs.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar (UTB): Cartagena-based technical university offering programs in engineering, industrial processes, and technology. Operates in the same regional labor market as SENA CIP but as a degree-granting institution rather than a free certification-focused training center.
• Institución Universitaria ITSA: Public technical institute in Barranquilla/Atlántico offering technologist programs in industrial processes and petrochemical-adjacent fields. Comparable to SENA CIP at the technologist level, serving Colombia's broader Caribbean industrial corridor.
• Fundación Tecnológica Antonio de Arévalo (TECNAR): Cartagena-based technical institution focused on industrial trades, technologist programs, and workforce certification. Closest city-level peer to SENA CIP for petrochemical, welding, and electrical trades training in the Cartagena market.

Broad incumbents

• SENAI - Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial: Brazil's industrial vocational training institute, structurally analogous to SENA (employer parafiscal-funded, free training). Operates technical schools and innovation institutes across Brazil - the closest international institutional analog for CIP's petrochemical/industrial training model.
• SENA - Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje (parent network): Parent organization of CIP and Colombia's national public vocational training system. Operates 33 regional offices and 117 training centers with same mandate (free workforce training, competency certification) but broader mandate across all trades and regions - direct institutional peer.

Direct peers

• INA - Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje (Costa Rica): Costa Rica's public vocational training institute, also funded by employer contributions and offering free trades training with competency certification. Comparable in mission, funding structure, and program portfolio to SENA CIP.
• Servicio Nacional de Capacitación para la Industria de la Construcción (SENCICO, Peru): Peru's construction-industry training entity, structurally similar to SENA CIP's "Fondo de Formación Profesional de la Industria de la Construcción (FIC)" funding stream and focused on construction trades competency certification.

Others

• CISCO Networking Academy: SENA CIP delivers Cisco Academy curricula in IT/computer networks and learners won national software competitions in Java. Cisco Academy serves as global IT certification channel that complements SENA's IT training tracks.
• INFOCAL (Bolivia): Bolivia's vocational training institute offering technical/industrial certifications. Institutional analog to SENA CIP in mission and competency-certification mandate, though Bolivian market scale differs.

Emerging players

• Tec de Monterrey (EGADE / Educación Continua): Mexico's leading private technical university with extensive executive education, professional certification, and corporate training programs. Comparable in petroleum/industrial training offerings to SENA CIP but operates as a paid private alternative for high-end credentials.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SENAComunica
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SENATV
• Facebookfacebook.com/SENA
• Instagraminstagram.com/senacomunica/?hl=es-la
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sena-centro-para-la-industria-petroqu%C3%ADmica

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about SENA: Centro para la industria petroquímica