Privacy Policy

1. Introduction and Scope

TopEdu LLC ("Company," "we," "us," "our," or "TopEdu"), operating as the world's first hybrid education ecosystem, is committed to protecting the privacy and personal data of our users ("Users," "you," or "your"). This Privacy Policy ("Policy") explains how we collect, use, disclose, store, protect, and otherwise process your personal information when you use our platform, including our website, mobile applications (iOS and Android), and related services (collectively, the "Service").

This Policy applies to all Users of our Service, including tertiary students, educators, institutional administrators, brand representatives, and other stakeholders in the education ecosystem. Our Service is designed to connect tertiary education participants and facilitate opportunities for research, creation, collaboration, and professional growth.

2. Definitions

For purposes of this Policy:

• Personal Information: Any information that identifies, relates to, or could reasonably be linked with you, including but not limited to your name, email address, phone number, academic credentials, profile information, and usage data.
• Verified Academic Profile: Your educational credentials, achievements, and verified information stored on our platform.
• Processing: Any operation performed on your personal information, including collection, use, storage, disclosure, or deletion.
• Data Controller: TopEdu LLC, which determines the purposes and means of processing your personal information.
• Data Subject: You, the individual to whom personal information relates.

3. Categories of Personal Information We Collect

3.1 Information You Provide Directly

We collect personal information when you voluntarily provide it to us:

• Account Registration: Full name, email address, phone number, password, date of account creation, and user preferences.
• Profile Information: Educational background, institution affiliations, academic achievements, certifications, resume/CV, bio, profile picture, gender, nationality, location, and professional experience.
• Academic Verification: Transcripts, degree certificates, academic credentials, verification documents, research publications, and scholarly work.
• Communication: Messages sent through our platform, direct messages with other Users, support inquiries, and feedback provided to TopEdu.
• Content Creation: Posts, projects, research, creative work, educational materials, and any other content you upload or create on our platform.
• Payment Information: If you make purchases through the Service, we collect billing address, payment method details (processed securely through third-party providers), and transaction history.
• Institutional Data: For institutional Users, information about your institution, affiliated departments, student and faculty directories, and institutional objectives.

3.2 Information Automatically Collected

We automatically collect certain information about your device and usage:

• Device Information: Device type, operating system, unique device identifiers, IMEI, IDFA, mobile network information, and device settings.
• Log Data: IP address, access times, pages viewed, duration of activities, search queries, clicks, referral URLs, and usage patterns.
• Location Data: Country, region, city level information (if location services are enabled), and approximate location based on IP address.
• Cookies and Tracking: Session IDs, tracking pixels, web beacons, and similar technologies to track user behavior and preferences.
• Analytics: Information about how you interact with the Service, features used, performance metrics, and behavioral analytics.
• Crash Reports: Technical data about app crashes, errors, and system performance issues.

3.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive personal information about you from:

• Educational institutions you're affiliated with (institutional data, enrollment status)
• Third-party verification services (academic credential verification)
• Social media platforms if you link your accounts with our Service
• Other Users who mention you, tag you in content, or refer you to our platform
• Analytics providers and marketing partners
• Public records and educational databases

4. Legal Bases and Purposes for Processing

4.1 Purposes of Processing

We process your personal information for the following purposes:

• Service Provision: Creating and maintaining your account, providing platform features, enabling user-to-user communication, and delivering the hybrid education ecosystem experience.
• Verification and Authentication: Verifying your academic credentials, confirming your identity, preventing fraud, and ensuring platform integrity.
• Matching and Connections: Using AI and algorithmic matching to connect students, educators, institutions, and brands based on profiles, interests, and opportunities.
• Personalization: Tailoring your experience, recommending connections, opportunities, courses, and content relevant to your profile and interests.
• Communication: Sending transactional emails, service updates, feature announcements, educational content, and information about opportunities.
• Research and Analytics: Conducting research about tertiary education trends, platform usage patterns, and user demographics to improve our Service.
• Security and Compliance: Protecting against fraud, abuse, security threats, enforcing our Terms of Use, complying with legal obligations, and protecting user rights.
• Marketing and Outreach: Creating marketing campaigns, conducting user surveys, and promoting platform features (with your consent where required).
• Legal Obligations: Responding to legal requests, law enforcement inquiries, regulatory requirements, and government investigations.

4.2 Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal information based on the following legal grounds:

• Contract: Processing necessary to perform our Service agreement with you
• Consent: Your explicit consent to specific processing activities
• Legitimate Interests: Our legitimate interests in improving the Service, fraud prevention, and platform security
• Legal Obligation: Processing required by applicable laws, regulations, or court orders
• Data Subject Vital Interests: Protecting your critical interests where necessary

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

5.1 User-Facing Information

TopEdu is a platform built on connection and transparency. Information in your public profile (including name, educational background, field of study, verified credentials, and public posts) is visible to other platform Users to facilitate networking, collaboration, and opportunities. You control what information appears in your public profile through your privacy settings.

5.2 Institutional Sharing

If you are affiliated with an educational institution, we may share limited enrollment and achievement data with that institution to facilitate institutional partnerships, course management, and institutional analytics. Educational institutions may use this data to enhance their offerings and connect with verified students.

5.3 Brand and Employer Matching

When brands and employers use our opportunity matching features, we may share your verified profile information (with your consent) to facilitate job recommendations, internship opportunities, and career connections. We will never share sensitive information without clear opt-in consent.

5.4 Service Providers

We share personal information with third-party service providers who assist us in operating our platform, including:

• Cloud infrastructure and hosting providers
• Payment processors and financial institutions
• Email and communication service providers
• Analytics and data analytics providers
• Customer support and CRM platforms
• Security and fraud prevention services
• Educational credential verification services

We require all service providers to sign data processing agreements and maintain appropriate security measures. Service providers may only use your data for purposes necessary to provide their services to TopEdu.

5.5 Legal Compulsion and Safety

We may disclose your personal information when required by law or when we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to:

• Comply with court orders, subpoenas, or legal process
• Enforce our Terms of Use and other agreements
• Protect against fraud, security threats, or harmful activity
• Protect the safety and security of Users and the public
• Comply with government requests and regulatory requirements

5.6 No Sale of Personal Information

TopEdu does not sell, rent, trade, or lease your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes. We do not monetize your personal data. Any data sharing is strictly limited to providing and improving the Service, with appropriate legal bases and security measures.

6. Data Security and Protection

6.1 Security Measures

TopEdu implements comprehensive technical, administrative, and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction:

• End-to-end encryption for sensitive communications
• HTTPS/SSL encryption for data in transit
• AES-256 encryption for data at rest
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA) for account access
• Regular security audits and penetration testing
• Employee access controls and training
• Firewalls and intrusion detection systems
• Regular security updates and patch management
• Data backup and disaster recovery protocols

6.2 Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to provide the Service and fulfill the purposes outlined in this Policy. Retention periods vary based on the type of data:

• Active Account Data: Retained while your account is active and for the duration of any ongoing relationships or transactions
• Inactive Accounts: Retained for up to 24 months after account closure for legal compliance and dispute resolution
• Transaction Records: Retained for 7 years for financial and legal compliance
• Support Communications: Retained for 3 years for customer service and dispute resolution
• Analytics Data: Aggregated and anonymized data retained indefinitely; identifiable data deleted after 12 months
• Legal Requests: Data retained as long as required by applicable law or legal process

6.3 Limitations of Security

While we implement extensive security measures, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is entirely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security. Use of the Service is at your own risk. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities under your account.

7. Your Privacy Rights and Choices

7.1 Data Subject Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Right of Access: Request access to the personal information we hold about you and receive a copy of your data in a structured, commonly-used format
• Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal information
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal obligations and legitimate interests)
• Right to Restrict Processing: Request that we limit how we use your personal information
• Right to Data Portability: Request that we provide your personal information in a portable format that can be transferred to another service
• Right to Object: Object to certain types of processing, including direct marketing and profiling
• Right not to be Subject to Automated Decision-Making: Request human review of decisions made solely by algorithms that significantly affect you
• Right to Lodge a Complaint: File a complaint with the relevant data protection authority in your jurisdiction

7.2 Exercising Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please submit a written request to privacy@topeduconnect.com with the subject line "Data Subject Request." Include sufficient information to identify you and specify your request. We will respond within 30 days (or longer if permitted by law) with information on how we can assist you.

7.3 Account Control and Settings

You can manage your privacy and communication preferences directly in your account settings:

• Adjust profile visibility and what information is publicly displayed
• Control who can contact you and message you on the platform
• Manage email communication preferences and unsubscribe from marketing
• Control targeted advertising and analytics participation
• Download your personal data in a portable format
• Delete your account and associated data

8. Children and Minors

TopEdu is designed for tertiary education users who are typically 18 years of age or older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under 18. If we discover that we have collected personal information from a minor, we will take immediate steps to delete such information.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided personal information to TopEdu, please contact us immediately at privacy@topeduconnect.com. We will cooperate fully in removing the information and terminating the child's account.

9. International Data Transfers

TopEdu operates globally, and your personal information may be transferred to, stored in, and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have different data protection laws than your home country.

When we transfer your personal information internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including:

• Data processing agreements with appropriate contractual clauses
• Adherence to international data transfer frameworks
• Implementation of equivalent security measures in all jurisdictions
• Compliance with applicable data protection laws in each jurisdiction

By using our Service, you consent to the transfer of your personal information to countries outside your country of residence, which may have different data protection laws. If you do not agree, please do not use our Service.

10. Third-Party Links and Services

Our Service may contain links to third-party websites, applications, and services that are not operated by TopEdu. This Privacy Policy does not apply to third-party services, and we are not responsible for their privacy practices. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services before providing your personal information.

If you connect your TopEdu account with third-party social media or educational platforms, your personal information may be shared with those platforms in accordance with your privacy settings and their policies. You are responsible for reviewing those platforms' privacy practices.

11. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

TopEdu uses cookies, web beacons, pixels, and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience, analyze usage, and deliver targeted content:

• Essential Cookies: Required for platform functionality and security
• Performance Cookies: Collect data about how users interact with the Service to improve performance
• Functional Cookies: Remember user preferences and settings
• Targeting/Advertising Cookies: Deliver targeted advertising and track marketing effectiveness

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through browser settings. You can choose to refuse cookies or be notified when cookies are being set. However, disabling cookies may affect the functionality of our Service.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make material changes, we will notify you by updating the "Last Updated" date and, for significant changes, by email or prominent notice on our platform.

Your continued use of TopEdu after such modifications signifies your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy. We encourage you to review this Policy regularly to stay informed about how we protect your privacy.

13. Contact Information

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

Email: support@topeduconnect.com
Address: Nigeria