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On 24 September 2025, the University of Jaén (UJA) hosted the opening ceremony of the 22nd edition of the University Expert Course in Virgin Olive Oil Tasting, organised in partnership with the International Olive Council (IOC). This flagship training course, which will run until 19 December, is part of a programme launched in 1997/1998 to train future experts in olive oil quality, with a particular focus on sensory analysis.
This year, 23 scholarships have been awarded by the IOC to participants from 13 member countries: Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Egypt, Spain, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Montenegro, Tunisia and Türkiye. An additional five participants from Saudi Arabia, Chile, Peru and Spain will be attending the course at their own expense.
The opening ceremony was attended by Francesco Roca, Vice-Rector for Continuing Education at UJA; Professor Sebastián Sánchez, Director of the course; and Alberto Moya, Course Coordinator. The IOC was represented by Lhassane Sikaoui, Head of the Olive Growing, Olive Oil Technology and Environment Unit, while Catarina Bairrao, Head of the Technical Cooperation and Training Department, joined the event remotely.
The programme’s organisers expressed their gratitude for the IOC’s ongoing support, noting that the course covers the entire olive oil value chain — from the grove to the consumer’s table. In addition to theoretical and practical sessions, participants will benefit from guided tastings, field visits, tours of oil mills and research institutes, on top of exchanges with internationally renowned experts from UJA and other partner research centres.
On behalf of the IOC Executive Director, Jaime Lillo, Mr Sikaoui wished the new cohort every success and emphasised the key role these future experts will play in the recognition and creation of IOC-recognised tasting panels across the globe.
Ms Bairrao also highlighted the programme’s impact on strengthening technical capacity and fostering intercultural dialogue around one of the Mediterranean’s flagship products.
In his remarks, the UJA Vice-Rector recalled that more than 600 students have been trained since the programme’s inception, and praised the fruitful partnership with the IOC, reaffirming the university’s commitment to the olive sector.
The day concluded with an inaugural seminar by Professor Sebastián Sánchez, entitled “Olive oils, environment and energy: towards a strong synergy”, setting the stage for three months of intensive learning, international exchange and passion for quality olive oil.
