Privacy Policy

Introduction

Welcome to UniConnect Expo ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application.

Please read this privacy policy carefully. By accessing or using our application, you agree to be bound by the terms described herein.

Information We Collect

Personal Information You Provide

When you register and use UniConnect Expo, we collect information you voluntarily provide, including:

• Account Information: Full name, email address, phone number, password
• Profile Information: Nationality, country of residence, educational background, academic interests
• Educational Preferences: Desired study destinations, preferred programs, education level
• Communication Data: Messages sent through our platform, inquiries to universities
• Event Registration: Information provided when registering for educational events and webinars

Information Automatically Collected

We automatically collect certain information when you use our application:

• Device Information: Device type, operating system, unique device identifiers
• Usage Data: Features used, pages visited, time spent on the app, interaction with universities
• Push Notification Tokens: When you enable push notifications
• Analytics Data: App performance metrics, crash reports, usage patterns

Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from:

• Universities and Educational Institutions: Enrollment status, program participation
• Authentication Providers: If you choose to sign in using third-party services
• Communication Services: Delivery status of emails and notifications

How We Use Your Information

We use collected information to:

• Provide Services: Create and manage your account, facilitate communication with universities
• Match Educational Opportunities: Connect you with relevant universities and programs based on your preferences
• Event Management: Register you for events, send event reminders and updates
• Communications: Send important updates, respond to inquiries, provide customer support
• Personalization: Customize your experience based on your interests and preferences
• Improvements: Analyze usage patterns to improve our services and develop new features
• Security: Detect and prevent fraud, unauthorized access, and other security issues
• Legal Compliance: Comply with applicable laws and regulations

Information Sharing and Disclosure

We share your information in the following circumstances:

With Universities and Educational Partners

We share relevant profile information with universities when you:

• Express interest in their programs
• Register for their events
• Initiate communication with them

Service Providers

We share information with third-party vendors who perform services on our behalf:

• Cloud hosting and infrastructure (Supabase)
• Email and notification services
• Analytics and performance monitoring
• Payment processing (if applicable)

Legal Requirements

We may disclose information when required by law or in response to:

• Court orders or subpoenas
• Government requests
• Legal proceedings
• Protection of our rights and safety

Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity.

With Your Consent

We may share your information for other purposes with your explicit consent.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information:

• Encryption: Data is encrypted in transit using TLS/SSL and at rest
• Access Controls: Limited access to personal data based on business needs
• Secure Infrastructure: Industry-standard security practices for our servers and databases
• Regular Updates: Security patches and updates applied regularly
• Incident Response: Procedures in place to respond to potential data breaches

Despite our efforts, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your information.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to:

• Provide our services
• Comply with legal obligations
• Resolve disputes
• Enforce our agreements

When you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information, unless retention is required by law.

Your Rights and Choices

Access and Correction

You can access and update your personal information through your account settings or by contacting us.

Account Deletion

You may request deletion of your account and associated personal data by contacting our support team.

Communication Preferences

You can manage your notification preferences:

• Push Notifications: Through your device settings
• Email Communications: Through preference settings in the app
• Marketing Messages: Opt-out links in promotional emails

Data Portability

You may request a copy of your personal information in a structured, commonly used format.

Objection to Processing

You have the right to object to certain processing of your personal information.

International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have different data protection laws. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for such transfers.

Children's Privacy

UniConnect Expo is not intended for users under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If we become aware that we have collected information from a child under 16, we will delete that information.

Third-Party Services

Our application may contain links to third-party websites and services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

California Privacy Rights

California residents have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to know what personal information is collected
• Right to know if personal information is sold or disclosed
• Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising privacy rights

European Privacy Rights

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

• Right to access your personal data
• Right to rectification of inaccurate data
• Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
• Right to restrict processing
• Right to data portability
• Right to object to processing
• Right to withdraw consent

Updates to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify you of material changes by:

• Posting the new policy in the application
• Sending a notification to registered users
• Updating the "Effective Date" at the top of this policy

Your continued use of the application after changes indicates acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact Information

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

Data Protection Officer

For privacy-related inquiries in the European Union:

DPO Email: [email protected]

Grievance Officer (India)

In accordance with Information Technology Act 2000: