Academia Data Protection Policy

Responsible Authority 

The entity responsible under the data protection laws, particularly the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), is:

Academia Group Switzerland AG
Viaduktstrasse 42
4051 Basel
Email:
Website: https://academia-group.ch/

General Notice

According to Article 13 of the Swiss Federal Constitution and the data protection provisions of the Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP), every person has the right to privacy and protection against the misuse of their personal data. The operators of this website take the protection of your personal data very seriously. We treat your personal data confidentially and in accordance with the statutory data protection regulations as well as this privacy policy.

In cooperation with our hosting providers, we make every effort to protect databases against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or falsification.

We would like to point out that data transmission over the internet (e.g., when communicating via email) can have security vulnerabilities. Complete protection of data from access by third parties is not possible.

By using this website, you agree to the collection, processing, and use of data as described below. This website can generally be visited without registration. During this visit, data such as pages accessed, file names retrieved, the date and time of access may be stored on the server for statistical purposes without directly relating to your person. Personal data, especially your name, address, or email address, are collected on a voluntary basis wherever possible. No data will be passed to third parties without your consent.

Processing of Personal Data

Personal data is any information that relates to an identified or identifiable person. A data subject is an individual whose personal data is processed. Processing includes any handling of personal data, regardless of the means or methods used, particularly the storage, disclosure, collection, deletion, storage, modification, destruction, and use of personal data.

We process personal data in accordance with Swiss data protection law. Furthermore, we process personal data based on the following legal foundations in connection with Art. 6(1) GDPR, where and to the extent the EU GDPR is applicable:

– Consent (Art. 6(1) sentence 1 lit. a GDPR)– The data subject has given consent to the processing of their personal data for one or more specific purposes.

– Contractual performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6(1) sentence 1 lit. b GDPR)– The processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is a party, or for the implementation of pre-contractual measures carried out at the request of the data subject.

– Legal obligation (Art. 6(1) sentence 1 lit. c GDPR) – The processing is necessary to fulfill a legal obligation to which the controller is subject.

– Protection of vital interests (Art. 6(1) sentence 1 lit. d GDPR) – The processing is necessary to protect the vital interests of the data subject or another natural person.

– Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1) sentence 1 lit. f GDPR) – The processing is necessary to safeguard the legitimate interests of the controller or a third party, provided that the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject, which require protection of personal data, do not outweigh them.

– Application procedures as a pre-contractual or contractual relationship (Art. 9(2) lit. b GDPR) – If special categories of personal data (e.g., health data such as disability status or ethnic origin) are requested from applicants within the application process so that the controller or the data subject can exercise rights derived from labor law or social security and protection law, their processing is carried out according to Art. 9(2) lit. b GDPR, or in the case of protecting vital interests, under Art. 9(2) lit. c GDPR, or for purposes of health care or occupational medicine, assessing the employee’s working capacity, medical diagnosis, treatment, or health or social care system management, under Art. 9(2) lit. h GDPR. In cases where special categories of data are provided voluntarily, their processing is based on Art. 9(2) lit. a GDPR.

We process personal data for the duration necessary for the respective purpose. For longer retention due to legal and other obligations, we restrict processing accordingly.

Security Measures

We take appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure a level of security appropriate to the risk, in accordance with legal requirements and considering the state of the art, implementation costs, the nature, scope, context, and purposes of processing, and the varying likelihood and severity of risks to the rights and freedoms of individuals.

These measures include, in particular, securing the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data by controlling physical and electronic access to the data as well as access, entry, transmission, ensuring availability, and separation of the data. We have also established procedures that ensure the exercise of data subjects’ rights, the deletion of data, and responses to data breaches. Additionally, we take the protection of personal data into account when developing or selecting hardware, software, and procedures, following the principle of data protection by design and by default.

Transfer of Personal Data 

In the course of processing personal data, it may happen that the data is transmitted to other bodies, companies, legally independent organizational units, or persons, or that it is disclosed to them. Recipients of this data may include service providers contracted with IT tasks or providers of services and content embedded into a website. In such cases, we observe the legal requirements and conclude corresponding contracts or agreements that serve the protection of your data with the recipients of your data.

Data Processing in Third Countries

Where we process data in a third country (i.e., outside the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA)) or where processing takes place in the context of using services of third parties or disclosure or transfer of data to other persons, entities, or companies, this is done only in accordance with legal requirements.

Subject to express consent or contractually or legally required transmission, we process data only in third countries with a recognized level of data protection, based on standard contractual clauses, certification, or binding internal data protection regulations (Art. 44 to 49 GDPR).

Cookie Policy

Cookies are text files that contain data from visited websites or domains and are stored by a browser on the user’s computer. A cookie primarily serves to store information about a user during or after their visit to an online offer. Stored information may include, for example, the language settings of a website, the login status, a shopping cart, or the point at which a video was watched. The term cookies also includes other technologies that perform similar functions (e.g., if user details are stored based on pseudonymous online identifiers, also known as “user IDs”).

The following types of cookies and functions are distinguished:

– Temporary cookies (also: session or session cookies): Temporary cookies are deleted at the latest after a user has left an online offer and closed their browser.

– Permanent cookies: Permanent cookies remain stored even after the browser has been closed. This allows, for example, the login status to be saved or preferred content to be displayed when the user returns to a website. Similarly, users’ interests, which are used for reach measurement or marketing purposes, can be stored in such a cookie.

– First-party cookies: First-party cookies are set by us.

– Third-party cookies (also: third-party cookies): Third-party cookies are mainly used by advertisers (so-called third parties) to process user information.

– Necessary (also: essential or absolutely necessary) cookies: Cookies can be necessary for the operation of a website (e.g., to save logins or other user inputs or for security reasons).

– Statistics, marketing, and personalization cookies: Cookies are typically used for reach measurement as well as when a user’s interests or behavior (e.g., viewing certain content, using functions, etc.) on individual websites are stored in a user profile. Such profiles are used to display content to users that corresponds to their potential interests. This process is also referred to as “tracking”, i.e., following the potential interests of users. Where we use cookies or “tracking” technologies, we will inform you separately in our privacy policy or as part of obtaining consent.

This website uses server-side tracking provided by JENTIS GmbH (Schönbrunner Straße 231, 1120 Vienna).

In server-side tracking, a JavaScript code is embedded directly on the website that is responsible for data collection. Instead of sending the data directly to Google, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or similar platforms, it is first sent to an internal server. From there, the data is controlled and transmitted to the respective third-party tools, such as Google Analytics, in compliance with data protection regulations.

No cookies are set in the browser/device of website visitors, and no personal data is collected or tracked.

Privacy Policy for SSL/TLS Encryption

This website uses SSL/TLS encryption for security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential content, such as requests that you send to us as the site operator. You can recognize an encrypted connection by the change in the browser’s address line from “http://” to “https://” and by the lock symbol in your browser line.

If SSL or TLS encryption is activated, the data you transmit to us cannot be read by third parties.

Privacy Policy for Contact Form

If you send us inquiries via the contact form, your details from the inquiry form, including the contact details you provide, will be stored by us for the purpose of processing the inquiry and in case of follow-up questions. We do not pass on this data without your consent.

Use of Google Maps

This website uses the services of Google Maps. This allows us to display interactive maps directly on the website and enable you to conveniently use the map function. When you visit the website, Google receives information that you have accessed the corresponding subpage of our website. This happens regardless of whether Google provides a user account that you are logged into or whether there is no user account. If you are logged into Google, your data will be directly associated with your account. If you do not want your profile to be associated with Google, you must log out before activating the button. Google stores your data as usage profiles and uses it for purposes of advertising, market research, and/or demand-oriented design of its website. Such evaluation is carried out (even for users who are not logged in) to provide tailored advertising and to inform other users of the social network about your activities on our website. You have the right to object to the creation of these user profiles, but you must contact Google to exercise this right.

For more information on the purpose and scope of data collection and processing by Google, as well as further information on your rights and privacy settings, please visit: www.google.de/intl/en/policies/privacy.

Google Ads 

This website uses Google conversion tracking. The information collected through conversion tracking is used to create conversion statistics for Ads customers who have opted for conversion tracking. Customers can see the total number of users who clicked on their ad and were redirected to a page tagged with a conversion tracking tag. However, they do not receive any information that personally identifies users.

Use of Google Remarketing

This website uses the remarketing function of Google Inc. The function serves to present interest-based advertisements to visitors to the website within the Google advertising network. Ads related to content previously accessed by the visitor on websites using Google’s remarketing function may be displayed to the visitor. According to Google’s own information, no personal data is collected during this process. Should you still not wish to use Google’s remarketing function, you can generally disable it by making the appropriate settings at http://www.google.com/settings/ads. Alternatively, you can disable the use of cookies for interest-based advertising through the Network Advertising Initiative by following the instructions at http://www.networkadvertising.org/managing/opt_out.asp.

Use of Google reCAPTCHA 

This website uses the reCAPTCHA service from Google Ireland Limited (Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, “Google”). The query serves to differentiate whether the input is made by a human or by automated, machine processing. In the context of using this service, your IP address and any other data required by Google for the reCAPTCHA service will be transmitted to Google. However, your IP address will not be combined with other data from Google. The processing is based on Art. 6(1) lit. f GDPR, in the legitimate interest of protecting our website from abusive automated spying and from SPAM.

Further information on Google reCAPTCHA and Google’s privacy policy can be found at: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en.

Privacy Policy for Google Analytics

This website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google Ireland Limited. If the controller of the data processing on this website is located outside the European Economic Area or Switzerland, the data processing by Google Analytics is carried out by Google LLC. Google LLC and Google Ireland Limited are referred to as “Google”.

The statistics obtained allow us to improve our services and make them more interesting for you as a user. This website also uses Google Analytics for cross-device analysis of visitor flows, which is performed via a user ID. If you have a Google user account, you can disable cross-device analysis of your usage under “My Data,” “Personal Data” in the account settings.

The legal basis for the use of Google Analytics is Art. 6(1) sentence 1 lit. f GDPR. The IP address transmitted by your browser as part of Google Analytics will not be merged with other Google data. We also use Google Analytics to analyze visitor flows across different devices, which is done using a user ID.

In order to improve our website and user experience, we also use Google Analytics’ analysis features related to advertisement impressions and user interests.

You can find more detailed information on Google’s privacy policy here: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/.

Use of Google Web Fonts 

This website uses web fonts provided by Google for the uniform display of fonts. When a page is loaded, your browser loads the required web fonts into your browser cache to display texts and fonts correctly. If your browser does not support web fonts, a standard font from your computer will be used.

Further information on Google Web Fonts can be found at https://developers.google.com/fonts/faq and in Google’s privacy policy: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/.

Privacy Policy for Facebook

This website uses functions of Facebook Inc., 1601 S. California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA. When you visit our pages with Facebook plug-ins, a connection is established between your browser and the Facebook servers. Data is already transferred to Facebook during this process. If you have a Facebook account, this data can be linked to it. If you do not want your Facebook account to be linked to this data, please log out of Facebook before visiting our website. Interactions, particularly the use of the comment function or clicking the “Like” or “Share” buttons, will also be passed on to Facebook. More information is available at https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy.

Privacy Policy for Instagram

Our website integrates features of the Instagram service. These functions are provided by Instagram Inc., 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA. If you are logged into your Instagram account, you can link the content of our pages to your Instagram profile by clicking the Instagram button. This allows Instagram to associate the visit to our pages with your user account. Please note that as the provider of the pages, we have no knowledge of the content of the data transmitted or how Instagram uses it.

Further information can be found in Instagram’s privacy policy: http://instagram.com/about/legal/privacy.

Privacy Policy for LinkedIn

We use the marketing services of the social network LinkedIn, operated by LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Plaza, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland (“LinkedIn”).

This allows us to analyze the usage of our website and display product information to users who may be interested based on their previous usage of our website. Collected data includes information such as the operating system, browser type, referrer URL, which pages were visited, offers clicked, and date and time of visit. LinkedIn does not store personal names or email addresses of users.

LinkedIn Analytics helps us better understand user interactions on our website and improve the user experience. More information about LinkedIn’s privacy policies can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy.

Newsletter – MailChimp

Our newsletters are sent through the “MailChimp” platform, a US-based email marketing service operated by Rocket Science Group, LLC, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE #5000, Atlanta, GA 30308, USA.

MailChimp is certified under the Privacy Shield Agreement, which ensures compliance with European data protection laws. MailChimp processes data on our behalf and may use it to improve its own services, but does not contact our newsletter recipients for other purposes or pass their data to third parties.

More details on MailChimp’s privacy policies can be found here: https://mailchimp.com/legal/privacy.

Privacy Policy for YouTube

Our website includes functions from “YouTube”, operated by Google Ireland Limited. YouTube’s terms of service and privacy policy outline how your data is handled when using the service. You can access them here: https://www.youtube.com/static?gl=en&template=terms&hl=en and here: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/.

Online Shop Data Processing

We process customer data in compliance with Swiss and EU data protection laws when managing our online shop, handling orders, payments, deliveries, and customer service. The data processed includes customer details (name, address), communication data, contractual data, and payment data. This processing is necessary for fulfilling the contract (Art. 6(1) lit. b GDPR) and legal obligations (Art. 6(1) lit. c GDPR).

Notice Regarding Data Transfer to the USA

Our website includes tools from US companies. When these tools are active, personal data may be transferred to US servers. It is important to note that the USA does not currently offer the same data protection standards as the EU. U.S. companies may be required to share data with government authorities, without providing you with adequate legal recourse.

Intellectual Property

The copyrights and other rights to all content, images, and files on this website belong to the operator or designated rights holders. Any reproduction requires prior written consent. Unauthorized reproduction may result in legal consequences.

General Disclaimer

All content on this website has been carefully checked. Despite our efforts to ensure the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of the information provided, we do not guarantee error-free content. Liability claims related to damages resulting from the use of information provided are excluded unless there is evidence of willful or gross negligence.

Changes 

We may update this privacy policy at any time without prior notice. The current version published on our website applies. If the privacy policy is part of an agreement with you, we will inform you of changes via email or another appropriate channel.

Questions for the Data Protection Officer

If you have questions about data protection, please write to us by email or contact the person responsible for data protection listed at the beginning of this privacy policy.