Privacy Policy

Epicurean College of Hospitality (“ECOH,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our website [Insert Your Website Address], apply for admission, enroll in our programs, use our services, or otherwise interact with us. By using our website or providing your personal information to us, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

I. Information We Collect

We collect various types of information to provide and improve our services, communicate with you, and fulfill our educational and administrative functions.

Information You Provide Directly:
- Website Visitors: When you use our website, you may provide us with information such as your name, email address, phone number, and message when you fill out contact forms, subscribe to our newsletter, or participate in online inquiries.
- Applicants: When you apply for admission, we collect information necessary to process your application, including your name, contact details, date of birth, CNIC, gender, marital status, current and permanent addresses, phone numbers, email address, educational history, personal statements, and any submitted documents.
- Students: Upon enrollment, we collect and maintain student records, which may include your name, contact details, academic records, financial information, attendance records, health information (if applicable and necessary), photographs/videos for college-related activities (with appropriate consent), and other information related to your education and progress.
- Faculty/Staff: When you apply for employment or are employed by ECOH, we collect information related to your application and employment, such as your name, contact details, employment history, qualifications, references, CNIC, financial information, and other relevant details.
- Event Attendees: If you register for our events or workshops, we collect information such as your name, contact details, and affiliation.
Information Collected Automatically:
- Website Usage Data: When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain information about your interaction with our site. This may include your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring website, pages visited, access times, and other usage data. We also use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience and collect information about your online activity.
- Device Information: We may collect information about the device you use to access our website, such as the device type and unique device identifiers.
Information from Other Sources:
- We may receive information about you from other sources, such as educational institutions (for transcript verification), employers (for reference checks for faculty/staff), and other third parties, but only if that information has been lawfully collected.

II. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for various purposes, including:

To process and evaluate applications for admission and employment.
To manage student enrollment, academic records, and provide educational services.
To communicate with you regarding your application, enrollment, program updates, events, and other relevant information.
To personalize your website experience and provide you with relevant content.
To improve our website, programs, and services and tailor them to your needs.
To conduct research and analysis to enhance our educational offerings and institutional effectiveness.
To comply with legal and regulatory requirements, including those related to student records and reporting.
To send you newsletters, marketing communications, and promotional materials (with your consent, where required by law).
To administer events, workshops, and other college-related activities.
For security and fraud prevention, including protecting our systems and preventing unauthorized access.
For alumni relations and development activities, such as keeping you informed about alumni events and fundraising initiatives.

III. How We Share Your Information

We may disclose your personal information to the following categories of recipients:

Service Providers: We may share your information with third-party vendors who provide services on our behalf, such as website hosting, payment processing, email marketing, data analysis, and other essential functions. We take steps to ensure that these providers protect your information and only use it for the purposes we specify.
Educational Institutions: We may disclose your information to other educational institutions for the verification of academic records, transfer of credits, or other legitimate educational purposes, with your consent or as required by law.
Regulatory Authorities: We may disclose your information to government or regulatory authorities when required by law, legal process, or to comply with our legal obligations.
Accrediting Bodies: We may share your information with accrediting bodies for the purpose of maintaining our accreditation and demonstrating compliance with educational standards.
Potential Employers (for students/alumni): With your explicit consent, we may share your information with potential employers to facilitate job placement and career opportunities.
Affiliated Organizations: We may share your information with affiliated organizations or partners for collaborative educational initiatives, research projects, or other activities, but only with your consent.
In Connection with a Merger, Acquisition, or Sale: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your personal information may be transferred to the acquiring entity. We will provide notice of such a transfer and any changes to this Privacy Policy.

IV. Data Security

We take the security of your personal information seriously and implement reasonable physical, technical, and administrative safeguards designed to protect it from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These safeguards include:

Encryption of sensitive data during transmission and storage.
Use of firewalls and intrusion detection systems to protect our networks.
Secure server facilities with restricted access controls.
Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments.
Access controls and authentication procedures to limit access to personal information to authorized personnel.
Employee training on data protection and security best practices.

However, please note that no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. In the event of a data breach, we will take appropriate steps to notify affected individuals and comply with applicable data breach notification laws.

V. Data Retention

We will retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, as outlined in this Privacy Policy, and as permitted or required by applicable laws and regulations. The retention period may vary depending on the type of information and the specific purpose. For example:

Student records are typically retained for a longer period to comply with educational record-keeping requirements and for alumni relations.
Application data for unsuccessful applicants may be retained for a shorter period for administrative purposes and to comply with legal obligations.
Website usage data may be retained for a limited time for analytics and website improvement.

We will securely dispose of or anonymize your personal information when it is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected.

VI. Your Rights

You may have certain rights regarding your personal information, subject to applicable laws, including the following:

Access: You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you and to receive a copy of that information.
Correction: You have the right to request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal information we have about you.
Erasure (Deletion): You have the right to request the deletion of your personal information under certain circumstances, such as when the information is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, or if you withdraw your consent (where applicable).
Objection to Processing: You have the right to object to the processing of your personal information for certain purposes, such as direct marketing, or when the processing is based on our legitimate interests.
Restriction of Processing: You have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal information under certain circumstances, such as when you contest the accuracy of the information, or when the processing is unlawful.
Data Portability: You have the right to receive your personal information in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format and to transmit that data to another controller, where technically feasible and when the processing is based on your consent or on a contract.
Withdrawal of Consent: If we rely on your consent to process your personal information, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the contact information provided below. We will respond to your request in accordance with applicable laws. We may require you to verify your identity before responding to your request. Please note that there may be limitations on these rights, and we may not be able to fulfill your request in all cases.

VII. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience, personalize content, analyze website traffic, and for marketing purposes.

What are cookies? Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device when you visit a website.
How we use cookies:
- Essential cookies: These cookies are necessary for the basic functioning of our website and enable you to navigate our site and use its features.
- Analytics cookies: These cookies help us understand how visitors use our website by collecting information about the number of visitors, the pages they visit, and how they navigate our site. We use this information to improve our website and provide a better user experience.
- Marketing cookies: These cookies are used to track your browsing activity across different websites and to deliver targeted advertisements that are relevant to your interests.
Your cookie preferences: You can control your cookie preferences through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies, or to receive a warning before a cookie is stored. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our website and you may not be able to access certain features.

VIII. Children’s Privacy

Our website and services are not directed towards children under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16 without verifiable parental consent. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 16, please contact us immediately, and we will take steps to delete the information.

IX. International Transfer of Your Information

Your personal information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence, including [List the countries where data may be transferred, if applicable], which may have different data protection laws. We will take appropriate safeguards to ensure that your personal information remains protected in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable laws, including [Mention specific safeguards, such as standard contractual clauses, adequacy decisions, or other transfer mechanisms, if applicable].

X. Updates to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or other factors. We will post any changes on this page and update the “Last Updated” date at the top of the policy. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.

XI. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the handling of your personal information, please contact us