Privacy Policy

The Hydrogen Centres of Educational Vocation (H2CoVE) Project is committed to safeguarding your privacy and protecting your personal data in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU 2016/679). This Privacy Policy outlines how personal data is collected, used, and managed when you visit the H2CoVE project website (the "Website" or the "Platform").

1. Data Controller

The data controller responsible for the processing of your personal data is Vestland Fylkeskommune, which leads the H2CoVE Project. As a publicly funded project, H2CoVE operates in compliance with applicable EU data protection standards.

If you have any inquiries about how your personal data is handled, please contact:

Vestland Fylkeskommune
Vestland fylkeskommune, postboks 7900, 5020 Bergen, Norway
Email: gaute.myhren.kornberg@vlfk.no
Phone: +47 41 72 91 41

2. Data Processor

The H2CoVE Website / Platform is hosted by FH Kufstein Tirol, Austria. As a data processor, FH Kufstein Tirol manages the technical infrastructure of the website and processes data on behalf of Vestland Fylkeskommune.

FH Kufstein Tirol
Andreas Hofer-Strasse 7, 6330 Kufstein, Austria
Email: christian.huber@fh-kufstein.ac.at
Phone: +43 5372 71819 136

3. No Cookies Used

We would like to clarify that we do not use cookies on our website. Cookies are small data files that are stored on your device and are typically used to track your online behaviour. At H2CoVE, we have chosen not to implement any cookies to protect your privacy.

Implications of Not Using Cookies

• Privacy Protection: Without cookies, your personal information remains untracked and unrecorded during your visit.

• No Personal Data Collection: We do not gather any data that could identify you through cookies.

• Simplicity of Use: You can navigate our website without the concern of cookie consent banners or policies.

For further information on the data we collect in anonymised form, please refer to the section "Personal Data We Collect" in this Privacy Policy.

4. Personal Data We Collect

The types of personal data we collect include:

• Personal Information: such as your name, email address, and other contact details provided when you interact with the Website or participate in H2CoVE-related activities.

• Technical Information: such as:

  • your anonymised IP address (last two octets for IPv4, last two blocks for IPv6 are anonymised automatically before being stored)
  • date of website access
  • browser type, name, and functionality
  • the specific page you visited on the website

To further safeguard your data privacy while you navigate our website, we also collect anonymised data, including anonymised IP addresses and browser information. This data is processed in a manner that prevents the identification of individual users, enabling us to understand website usage patterns and enhance our services. The anonymisation process ensures that your identity is protected, allowing us to monitor the website's performance without compromising your privacy.

5. Purpose of Data Collection

As a publicly funded project, H2CoVE collects data primarily to:

• Facilitate user participation in the project’s educational and vocational training programmes.

• Maintain and improve the website’s functionality.

• Ensure compliance with reporting requirements for the project's funding bodies.

• Respond to user inquiries and provide necessary support.

6. Legal Basis for Processing

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

• Performance of a Task in the Public Interest: The activities undertaken by the H2CoVE Project are publicly funded and aimed at advancing educational opportunities across Europe. This includes the development and promotion of resources that enhance vocational training and skills development within the hydrogen economy. As such, the processing of your personal data is necessary to achieve these educational goals and to fulfil our obligations as a publicly funded initiative.

• Consent: We rely on your explicit consent when you provide your personal information to us for specific purposes. This includes situations where you contact us for inquiries, register for events, or sign up for educational courses. By providing your consent, you enable us to process your data in order to facilitate these interactions and enhance your experience on our platform. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time, and we will inform you of the implications of such a withdrawal.

• Legal Obligation: In certain instances, we are required to process your personal data to comply with legal obligations. This may involve fulfilling reporting requirements set forth by European and national funding agencies that support the H2CoVE Project. We ensure that any data processing conducted for these purposes is compliant with applicable data protection laws and is limited to what is necessary to meet our obligations.

7. Data Sharing

We may share anonymised data with partners involved in the H2CoVE project for educational or research purposes. Your personal data may also be shared with service providers such as website hosts, but only to the extent necessary to provide technical and analytical services. We do not sell or rent personal data to third parties.

8. International Data Transfers

While the project operates primarily within the EU, any international transfers of personal data will be carried out in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) guidelines, ensuring that appropriate safeguards are in place.

9. Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes of the project or as required by law. Once the project ends or the data is no longer required, it will be securely deleted or anonymised.

10. Your Rights

Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you have several rights designed to protect your personal data and enhance your control over how it is processed. Here’s a detailed overview of each right:

• Access (Art. 15 GDPR): You have the right to know whether your personal data is being processed and to obtain access to that data. This includes information on the purposes of processing, the categories of data concerned, the recipients to whom the data has been disclosed, and the retention period. You can request a copy of your personal data free of charge, although a reasonable fee may be charged for additional copies. This right empowers you to understand how your data is being used and to verify its accuracy.

• Rectification (Art. 16 GDPR): If you find that your personal data is inaccurate or incomplete, you have the right to request its correction. This means you can ask for inaccurate data to be corrected or for incomplete data to be completed. Organisations are required to act on such requests without undue delay, ensuring that the information they hold about you is accurate and up to date.

• Erasure (Art. 17 GDPR): Also known as the "right to be forgotten," this right allows you to request the deletion of your personal data in certain circumstances. You can exercise this right if your data is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, if you withdraw your consent, or if you believe the processing is unlawful. If you choose to unsubscribe from a newsletter or similar service, your data should be deleted upon request, provided there are no overriding legal obligations to retain it.

• Restriction of Processing (Art. 18 GDPR): Under specific conditions, you can request a restriction on the processing of your personal data. This means that while your data may still be stored, it cannot be processed in any way until the restriction is lifted. You might exercise this right if you contest the accuracy of your data, if the processing is unlawful, or if you need the data for legal claims. This right provides you with greater control over how your data is handled in situations where its accuracy or legality is in question.

• Object (Art. 21 GDPR): You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data at any time, particularly if the processing is based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing purposes. If you raise an objection, the organisation must cease processing your data unless they can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for continuing that processing that override your interests, rights, and freedoms. This right is particularly significant in cases of direct marketing, where you can ensure that you are not targeted without your consent.

• Data Portability (Art. 20 GDPR): You have the right to request that your personal data be provided to you in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format. This right enables you to transfer your data from one service provider to another easily, promoting data mobility and control. It applies when the processing is based on consent or a contract and is carried out by automated means. This right allows you to take your data with you and ensures that you can use it with other services if you choose.

• Withdraw Consent (Art. 7(3) GDPR): If you have provided consent for the processing of your personal data, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. Once consent is withdrawn, the processing of your data based on that consent must cease. This right ensures that you are not bound to continue allowing the processing of your data once you no longer wish to do so. However, it’s important to note that the withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.

To exercise your rights or withdraw consent, you may unsubscribe using the link provided in each newsletter, email us at Christian.Huber@fh-kufstein.ac.at, or send a postal request to the contact information below.

11. Security of Your Data

We implement technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data from unauthorised access, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include firewalls, and secure access controls. Additionally, to further enhance your privacy, the last two octets (for IPv4) or blocks (for IPv6) of your IP address are anonymised automatically before being stored.

12. Changes to the Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Any changes will be posted on this page, and we will notify users of significant updates.

13. Contact Information

For questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or your data rights, please contact:

Fachhochschule Kufstein Tirol Bildungs GmbH
Christian Huber [he/him] Andreas Hofer-Strasse 7, 6330 Kufstein, Austria
Email: christian.huber@fh-kufstein.ac.at
Phone: +43 5372 71819 136

Furthermore, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority if you believe that your data protection rights have been violated.