Inter Pacific Post University (IPPU), an online flagship higher education initiative operated under the United Nations Inter Pacific Association (UNIPA), is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal data. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and safeguard your information when you access our official website, student portal, and digital services.

1. Information We CollectWe collect personal information necessary for academic administration, admissions evaluation, and portal management:
* Personal & Identity Data: Full name, date of birth, nationality, national ID/passport details, and photographs.
* Contact Information: Email address, phone number, and mailing address.
* Academic & Professional Background: Educational transcripts, certificates, diplomas, CVs/resumes, and prior work experience details.
* Financial & Payment Data: Transaction records and payment confirmation details. (Note: Full credit card numbers and banking credentials are processed directly via Stripe and are not stored on IPPU servers).
* Technical & Usage Data: IP address, browser type, device specifications, portal access logs, and browsing patterns via standard cookies.

2. How We Use Your Information
Your data is collected and processed for legitimate educational and organizational purposes:
* Evaluating admission applications and verifying academic credentials.
* Managing course enrollments, student records, and digital Learning Management System (LMS) access.
* Processing tuition fees, application fees, and issuing official payment invoices through Stripe.
* Issuing academic degrees, transcripts, certificates, and facilitating degree verification.
* Communicating institutional announcements, academic schedules, and administrative updates.
* Ensuring web security, preventing fraudulent applications, and maintaining operational compliance with UNIPA governance standards.

3. Payment Security & Third-Party Processing
All financial transactions, including application fees and tuition payments, are securely handled through Stripe, our third-party global payment processor.
* IPPU does not retain, store, or process sensitive financial credentials (such as credit card numbers or PINs) on its internal servers.
* Stripe processes your data in compliance with international security standards, including the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS).

4. Data Sharing & Disclosure
IPPU does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We may disclose your data only under the following conditions:
* Institutional Affiliates: Sharing data with UNIPA administrative bodies and official regional secretariats for governance, audit, and verification purposes.
* Service Providers: Trusted third-party technology providers (e.g., cloud hosting, email service providers, LMS hosting) operating under strict data protection agreements.
* Public Verification Portal: Basic credential information (such as candidate name, degree title, and conferment year) may be accessible via the public Verification Portal to confirm academic authenticity for employers or diplomatic entities upon official request.
* Legal & Regulatory Obligations: Compliance with applicable international laws, court orders, or lawful government demands.

5. Data Retention & Security
* Data Retention: Student academic records, degree issuances, and alumni profiles are stored permanently in the university registry database for lifelong verification purposes. Temporary applicant data or unsubmitted applications are purged periodically in accordance with internal administrative policies.
* Data Security: We employ industry-standard encryption protocols (SSL/TLS), firewalls, restricted access controls, and secure database management to protect your information against unauthorized access, loss, or alteration.

6. International Data Transfers
As a borderless digital institution operating globally under UNIPA, your personal information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in servers located outside your country of residence. By using our website and services, you consent to the transnational transfer and management of your data.

7. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:
* Access: Request a copy of the personal information held by IPPU.
* Correction: Request updates or corrections to inaccurate or incomplete personal records.
* Restriction or Erasure: Request the deletion or restricted processing of non-essential personal data, subject to institutional record-keeping requirements.
To exercise any of these rights, please submit a formal request to the Executive Secretariat.

8. Updates to This Policy
IPPU reserves the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time to reflect operational, legal, or technical changes. All updates will be published directly on this page with a revised effective date.

9. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact:
* Executive Secretariat / Data Protection Coordinator
* Inter Pacific Post University (IPPU)
* Official Email: privacy@ippu.university | secretariat@ippu.university