Introduction
Chinese Education (Group) Limited operates the website located at www.chinaedu.mom and the related education services available through it. This website and its associated technology platform were developed and are maintained by ChinaEdu, the developer name under which our digital properties are published. We are committed to protecting the privacy of every visitor, student, parent and partner who interacts with us.
This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, how we use and store it, and the choices you have about the way your information is handled. It also describes the steps we take to keep that information secure and the rights that may be available to you under the laws of your jurisdiction.
Please read this policy carefully so that you understand our practices. By accessing or using our website and services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this policy. If you do not agree with any part of this policy, you should not use the website or provide personal information to us.
Scope of This Policy
This policy applies to all personal information that we collect through our website, through our online application and enrollment forms, through email and telephone correspondence, and through any other channel where this policy is referenced. It also applies to information collected when you visit our premises, attend one of our events, or interact with our staff in person.
The policy covers information we collect about prospective students, current students, alumni, parents, guardians, website visitors and business partners. It applies regardless of the device you use to access our services, whether a desktop computer, a mobile phone or a tablet.
This policy does not apply to third party websites or services that may be linked from our pages. Those third parties have their own privacy practices, and we encourage you to review their policies before providing any personal information to them.
Information We Collect
We collect several categories of information in order to provide our services and to improve your experience. The categories are described in detail below.
Contact and identity information includes your full name, email address, telephone number, mailing address and, where relevant, your date of birth. This information allows us to identify you and to communicate with you about your inquiries and enrollments.
Enrollment and academic information includes your educational background, program preferences, prior qualifications, language proficiency and any documents you choose to submit with an application. We use this information to assess your application and to place you in a program that matches your goals.
Payment and transaction information includes billing details and records of payments made for courses, fees and other services. We do not store full payment card numbers on our own servers; payment processing is handled by reputable payment service providers that comply with industry security standards.
Technical and usage information includes your internet protocol address, browser type, operating system, device information, the pages you view, the links you click, and the date and time of your visit. This information is used to keep our website secure, to diagnose technical problems and to understand how visitors use our services in aggregate.
How We Collect Information
We collect information directly from you when you fill in a form, subscribe to our newsletter, submit an application, send us an email, or contact us by telephone. The information you provide is used only for the purposes described in this policy.
We also collect information automatically as you browse our website through the use of cookies, server logs and similar technologies. This automated collection helps us understand how visitors reach our website and how they move through it, which in turn helps us improve navigation and content.
In some cases we may receive information about you from third parties, such as payment processors that confirm a transaction, educational partners that refer you to us with your consent, or public sources where we need to verify an academic credential. We combine this information only where necessary to provide the services you have requested.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to operate our services effectively. Specifically, we use personal information to process applications and enrollments, to deliver courses and support, to respond to inquiries, to process payments, and to send you information about programs you have shown an interest in.
We also use information to maintain the security of our platform, to detect and prevent fraud or abuse, to comply with our legal obligations, and to improve our website and the quality of our teaching. For example, aggregate usage data helps us understand which topics students find most useful so that we can refine our curriculum.
Where required by law, we will obtain your consent before using your information for a purpose that is not otherwise permitted. We do not use your personal information to make automated decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects on you without a lawful basis.
Legal Bases for Processing
Where the laws of your jurisdiction apply, we process personal information on one or more legal bases. These include the performance of a contract, such as when we provide a course you have enrolled in; our legitimate interests in operating and improving our services, provided those interests are not overridden by your rights; compliance with legal obligations; and your consent, where consent is required for a specific purpose.
Our legitimate interests include keeping our website secure, understanding how our services are used, responding to inquiries and developing our programs. We balance these interests against any impact on your rights and freedoms before relying on them.
When we rely on consent, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. Withdrawing consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing that occurred before the withdrawal, and it does not affect processing that we carry out on other lawful bases.
International Data Transfers
Our operations are based in Hong Kong, but our service providers may be located in other countries. Where we transfer personal information across borders, we take steps to ensure that the information receives a level of protection consistent with applicable law, such as by using appropriate contractual safeguards.
When we transfer information internationally, we assess the legal framework of the receiving country and put in place measures designed to protect your information, including data processing agreements and, where required, standard contractual clauses approved by the relevant authorities.
By using our services, you acknowledge that your information may be transferred to and processed in countries outside your own, and that those countries may have different data protection laws. We take reasonable steps to ensure your information remains protected wherever it is processed.
Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. When we determine the appropriate retention period, we consider the amount and sensitivity of the information, the potential risk of harm, the purposes of processing, and our legal obligations.
For example, application materials for unsuccessful applicants are retained for a limited period to allow follow up, while enrollment records for students are kept for the duration of the relationship and for a reasonable period afterward. Records related to payments may be kept longer where required for accounting, tax or regulatory purposes.
When information is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymize it. Anonymized information may be retained for analytical purposes because it can no longer be associated with an identifiable individual.
Data Security
We use administrative, technical and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration and destruction. These measures include access controls, encryption of data in transit, and regular review of our security practices.
Access to personal information is limited to employees and service providers who need it to perform their duties, and all personnel are subject to confidentiality obligations. We regularly test our systems and update our safeguards to respond to evolving threats.
No method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. While we work hard to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. We encourage you to keep your account credentials confidential and to notify us promptly if you suspect any unauthorized activity involving your account.
Your Rights and Choices
Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information. These may include the right to access the information we hold about you, to request correction of inaccurate information, to request deletion, to object to certain processing, to restrict processing, and to request a copy of your information in a portable format.
You may also have the right to withdraw consent where we rely on consent, and the right to lodge a complaint with a data protection authority in your jurisdiction. We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of these rights.
You may opt out of marketing communications at any time by using the unsubscribe link in our emails or by contacting us. To exercise any other right, please contact us using the details in the How to Contact Us section below. We will respond within the timeframe required by applicable law and may ask you to verify your identity before acting on a request.
Privacy for Children
Our website and services are intended for individuals who are at least the age of majority in their jurisdiction or who are using the services with the involvement of a parent or legal guardian. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without verifiable parental consent.
If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child without the required parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information as quickly as possible. We encourage parents and guardians to monitor their children online activity and to talk to them about privacy and safe internet use.
If you are a parent or guardian and you believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately. We will take steps to remove that information from our systems in accordance with applicable law.
Third Party Services and Links
Our website may contain links to third party websites, including payment gateways, social media platforms and partner institutions. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those websites, and this policy does not govern them.
When you interact with a third party service through our website, that service may collect information directly from you under its own privacy policy. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any third party website you visit before submitting personal information.
If you follow a link to an external site, any information you provide there will be subject to that third party privacy policy. The presence of a link on our website does not imply our endorsement of the linked website or its practices.
Marketing Communications
With your consent where required, we may send you marketing communications about our programs, events and services. You may receive these communications by email or, where you have provided a telephone number and consented, by telephone or text message.
Every marketing email we send includes an unsubscribe link that allows you to opt out at any time. You can also opt out by contacting us directly. We will honor your request promptly, although you may still receive transactional messages that are necessary for the administration of an existing enrollment or relationship.
Please note that opting out of marketing communications does not affect the processing of your information for other lawful purposes described in this policy, such as providing a course you have enrolled in.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology or legal requirements. When we make material changes, we will update the last updated date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, provide a more prominent notice on our website.
If the changes are significant, we may also notify you by email where we have your contact details. We encourage you to review this policy periodically so that you remain informed about how we protect your information.
Your continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised policy. If you do not agree to the revised policy, you should stop using the services and, if you wish, request deletion of your personal information.
How to Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us using the details below. We will respond to your message as promptly as possible.
Chinese Education (Group) Limited
2F Hang Lung Hse, 184-192 Queens Rd
Central, Hong Kong (HK)
Email: feedback@chinaedu.mom
Telephone: +12247448261
Website: www.chinaedu.mom
We are committed to resolving any concerns you may have. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may also have the right to contact the data protection authority in your jurisdiction.