Privacy Policy

Centre for Appropriate Technology & Development (CATD)

Last updated: 27 November 2025

1. Introduction and Scope

The Centre for Appropriate Technology & Development (CATD) is committed to protecting the privacy of individuals who interact with us through our primary website, www.catdnadave.ac.fj, and other related online services.

This Privacy Policy outlines how CATD collects, uses, protects, and discloses Personal Information gathered through your use of the website and associated activities. As a tertiary institution, we adhere to best practices concerning privacy and data protection principles globally, ensuring that any data processing is conducted with fairness, integrity, and transparency.

By accessing or using our website, you signify your acceptance of the terms of this Privacy Policy.

2. Definition of Personal Information

For the purpose of this Policy, “Personal Information” means information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable, whether the information or opinion is true or not, and whether the information or opinion is recorded in a material form or not.

This includes, but is not limited to: names, addresses, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, educational history, academic records, financial information (for fee payments), and sensitive information (such as health information or racial/ethnic origin) collected during enrolment or employment processes.

3. Collection of Information

CATD collects Personal Information through various channels and activities, including:

  1. Information You Provide Directly to Us

We collect information when you engage with us directly, such as when you:

  • Enquire about a course or register for an event through online forms.
  • Apply for admission or employment.
  • Communicate with us via email, telephone, or online chat services.
  • Provide feedback or participate in surveys.

The types of information collected may include your name, contact details, identification information, academic history, and any other details necessary to fulfil your request or administer our services.

  1. Information Collected Automatically (Usage Data)

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain non-personal and personal technical information, which helps us analyse website usage and improve our services. This usage data may include:

  • Internet Protocol (IP) Address: Used to identify the location of the device accessing the site and for security monitoring.
  • Browser Type and Operating System: Information about the software used to access the website.
  • Pages Viewed and Time Spent: Details of the sections of the site you visit and the duration of your visit.
  • Referring URLs: The website or search terms that directed you to our site.

This information is primarily collected through log files, web analytics tools, and cookies.

4. Purpose of Data Collection and Use

CATD uses the Personal Information collected only for purposes directly related to our functions and activities as a tertiary education institution. These purposes include:

  • Administration and Delivery of Education: Processing admissions, registrations, student administration, and providing educational, welfare, and support services.
  • Communication: Responding to your enquiries, providing requested information, and communicating important updates about your studies, services, or events.
  • Compliance and Reporting: Fulfilling statutory and regulatory requirements, including reporting to government, funding bodies, or legislative authorities.
  • Operational Improvement: Analysing website usage and trends to improve the structure, content, and security of our online platforms and services.
  • Marketing and Engagement (with consent): Informing you about CATD courses, events, and other news that may be of interest, where appropriate consent has been given.
  • Security and Safety: Protecting the integrity and security of the website, IT infrastructure, and the health and safety of staff and students.
5. Disclosure and Sharing of Information

CATD treats your Personal Information with confidentiality and will not disclose it to external third parties except where necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined above, or where legally required. Disclosure may occur in the following circumstances:

  • Service Providers: We may share information with third-party service providers and contractors who perform services on our behalf, such as IT hosting, analytics, payment processing, and administrative functions. These parties are contractually obligated to maintain the confidentiality and security of the data and are prohibited from using it for any purpose other than providing services to CATD.
  • Government and Regulatory Bodies: Disclosure may be necessary to comply with legal obligations, including reporting to national or regional education and funding agencies, or in response to a court order or law enforcement investigation.
  • Academic Purposes: Information may be shared with other educational institutions, accreditation bodies, or professional organisations for the verification of academic records, enrolment confirmation, or for research purposes (often in an aggregated or de-identified format).
  • Safety and Legal Protection: Where we believe disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of CATD, our students, staff, or the public, or to enforce our agreements and policies.
6. Security and Protection of Data

CATD is committed to ensuring the security of your Personal Information. We employ reasonable and appropriate physical, electronic, and administrative safeguards to protect the information we hold from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure.

Our security measures include:

  • Using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption for data transmission on secure sections of the website.
  • Implementing strict access controls to databases and systems storing Personal Information.
  • Regularly reviewing our data handling and security practices.
7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses ‘cookies’ and similar tracking technologies to enhance your user experience, collect usage data, and facilitate certain functionality.

  • What are cookies? Cookies are small text files placed on your device by a website that you visit. They are commonly used to make websites work efficiently and to provide information to the site owners.
  • How we use them: We use cookies to track site navigation, analyse user traffic patterns, and remember your preferences. This helps us tailor content and improve the overall functionality of the website.
  • Managing cookies: Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies or receive a warning before a cookie is stored. If you choose to decline cookies, you may not be able to fully experience all the interactive features of the CATD website.
8. Data Retention

We retain your Personal Information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, to administer our relationship with you, or as required by applicable laws and internal policies. Once your data is no longer required, we will securely destroy or de-identify it.

9. Your Rights and Access to Information

You have the right to request access to the Personal Information that CATD holds about you and to request that we correct any inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated information.

To exercise these rights, please submit a formal request in writing to the contact details provided in Section 11. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

10. External Links

The CATD website may contain links to third-party websites. CATD is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of these external sites. We encourage users to read the privacy policies of any third-party sites they visit.

11. Updates to this Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy may be reviewed and updated periodically to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or technology. Any material changes will be posted on this page with a revised “Effective Date.” We encourage you to review this Policy regularly.

12. Contact Details

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this privacy policy, our data handling practices, or if you wish to exercise your rights of access or correction, please visit our website and reach out to the approved contact details in the website.