Privacy Policy

Domain Academy’s Commitment

Domain Academy is committed to protecting all personal and sensitive data for which we are responsible, and to handle this data in line with local data protection legislation and the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).

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The data protection principles as outlined by the Office of the Information and Data Protection Commissioner (IDPC) in Malta are available here: https://idpc.org.mt/en/Pages/dp/principles.aspx

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The legal bases for processing data are:

• Consent: the student, parent/guardian or member of staff has given consent for the institution to process their personal data for a specific purpose.
• Contract: the processing is necessary for the contract. This includes staff employment contracts as well as student application forms.
• Legal obligation: the processing is necessary for Domain Academy to comply with the law (not including contractual obligations).

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All staff are required to treat all student information in a confidential manner and follow the guidelines of this policy. In addition, Domain Academy has a Data Protection Officer who is responsible for ensuring all staff and systems are compliant with the GDPR.

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Domain Academy are committed to ensuring that all staff are aware of data protection policies, legal requirements and principles. Training is available to staff where required.

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The requirements of this policy are mandatory for all staff employed by Domain Academy and any third party contracted to provide services within the institution.

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Data Breaches

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A personal data breach refers to a breach of security leading to the accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorised disclosure of, or access to, personal data. This includes breaches that are the result of both accidental and deliberate causes.

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Every breach is assessed to determine whether it may result in a risk to the rights and freedoms of any person. In cases where this risk is identified, the IDPC and individual(s) concerned will be notified within 72 hours of the breach.

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Personal and Sensitive Data

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All data within Domain Academy’s control is identified as personal, sensitive, or both, to ensure it is handled in compliance with legal requirements and access to it does not breach the rights of the individual to whom it relates.

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Personal data refers to any information relating to an identified or identifiable person, which is someone who can be identified, directly or indirectly, by reference to an identifier – such a name, location, or identification number – or individual factors. These individual factors include physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of a person. (General Data Protection Regulation 2016, Art. 4)

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Sensitive personal data is data concerning racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, health, sex life or sexual orientation, and any processing of genetic or biometric data. (General Data Protection Regulation 2016, Art. 9)

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The principles of the GDPR shall be applied to all data processed.

• Ensure that data is fairly, transparently and lawfully processed
• Process data only for specified purposes
• Ensure that all data processed is adequate, relevant and not excessive
• Ensure that data processed is accurate and up to date, as provided by the data subject
• Not keep data longer than is necessary or as required by law
• Process the data in accordance with the data subjects’ rights
• Ensure that data is secure
• Ensure that data is not transferred without adequate protection

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Fair Processing and Privacy Notifications

Domain Academy will be transparent about the intended processing of data and communicate these intentions to staff, parents/guardians and students prior to the processing of the individual’s data.

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Notifications shall be in accordance with regulations in terms of transparency, including where they are required to be issued to those defined as ‘Children’ under the legislation.

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There may be circumstances where Domain Academy is required, either by law or in the best interests of students or staff, to pass information to external authorities. These authorities are also required to comply with the GDPR and have their own policies relating to the data protection. Any intention to share personal data to a third party organisation will be clearly defined within notifications, including details of the basis for sharing the data.

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Data will be shared with third parties where it is a legal requirement to provide this information.

Staff and students will be notified of any proposed changes to data processing that may impact them.

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Under no circumstances will Domain Academy disclose information:

• that would cause serious harm to students, staff, or anyone else’s physical or mental health or condition.
• that would allow another person to be identified, or identifies another person as the source, unless the person is an employee of the institution or a local authority or has given consent, or it is reasonable in the circumstance to disclose the information without consent. The exemption from disclosure does not apply if the information can be edited so that the person’s name or identifying details are removed.

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Data Security

In order to assure the protection of all data being processed and inform decisions on processing activities, Domain Academy will undertake an assessment of the associated risks of data processing the impact on individual privacy. Risk assessments are conducted in accordance with the requirements of Article 32 of the GDPR.

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Security of data is achieved through the implementation of proportionate physical and technical measures. Nominated staff are responsible for the effectiveness of the controls implemented, and the reporting on their performance.

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The security arrangements of any third party organisation with which Domain Academy may share data will also be considered. Where necessary, these organisations will be required to provide evidence of the security of the data.

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Data Access Requests

All individuals whose data is held by Domain Academy have a legal right to request access to their data, including information about what data is being held. We will respond to any such requests within one month. These should be made in writing to:

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Data Protection Officer, Domain Group
Domain Building
102/104 Constitution Street
Mosta MST 9055
Malta

or

dpo@domaingroup.com.mt

No charge is applied to this.

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Personal data will not be disclosed to third parties without the consent of the student, parent/guardian or staff member, unless it is obligated by law or in the best interest of the individual. Data may be shared without consent in certain situations; for example, Domain Academy may be required to forward information to the police to aid a criminal investigation.

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Every individual has the right to be forgotten. This means that, where personal data is no longer required for its original purpose, an individual can request that their personal data is erased. Domain Academy operates in accordance with the GDPR, and will erase data where it is requested and does not violate other requirements or legislation.

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Photographs and Videos

Photographs and videos of staff and students may be captured at appropriate times as part of educational activities for use in institution only. Where photographs or videos may be used for publication and marketing, Domain Academy will always seek consent from staff and students.

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Location of Information and Data

Hard copy data, including forms, records and personal information, are kept in secure storage. Personal information is not removed from the institution except where absolutely necessary, such as for audits, marking assessments or conducting off-site meetings.

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The following guidelines, for all staff, reduce the risk of personal data being compromised:

• Paper copies of data should not be taken off the institution site except where absolutely necessary. In that case, information should not be left unattended or in public view.
• Unwanted paper that includes data or personal information should be destroyed.
• Care must be taken to ensure that personal information is not left in printer trays.
• If information is being viewed on a computer, staff must ensure that the window and documents are properly shut down or locked before leaving the computer unattended. Personal information should not be viewed on public computers.
• If it is necessary for softcopy data to be taken offsite, it should be downloaded onto a portable storage device, and edited on and saved onto that device only. The information should not be copied onto any home or public computers.

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These guidelines have been shared with all staff, and any issues or breaches of this policy will be addressed in accordance with the seriousness of the breach.

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Data Disposal

Domain Academy recognises that the secure disposal of redundant data is integral to compliance with the requirements of the GDPR. All data held in any form (softcopy or hardcopy) shall be passed to a disposal partner with demonstrable competence in ensuring secure disposal services. All data shall be destroyed to agreed levels meeting recognised national standards.

Data Protection Officer

Data Controller: Domain Academy

Name of DPO: Graziella Maisto Camilleri

Mailing Address: Data Protection Officer, Domain Building, 102/104 Constitution Street, Mosta

Email Address: dpo@domaingroup.com.mt

Contact Number: 21433688 Extension 216

Nature of Business: Education

Date of Appointment: 2^nd March 2023