Privacy Policy

Cornerstone Institute (“the Institute,” “we,” “us”) is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal information is collected, used, and safeguarded responsibly. This Privacy Policy explains how we handle personal information in compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA) and the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (PAIA) .

1. Information We Collect
We may collect personal information from you when you:

Submit an application or registration form.
Enquire about our programmes or services.
Subscribe to our newsletters or communications.
Browse our website (including IP addresses, browser types, and cookies).

2. How We Use Your Information
Your information is used to:

Process applications, registrations, and academic records.
Respond to queries and provide student support.
Send administrative updates and institutional communications.
Improve our website and service offerings.
Comply with legal and regulatory obligations (e.g., DHET reporting).

3. Legal Basis for Processing
We process personal information based on:

Consent: Where you have explicitly agreed.
Contract: Where processing is necessary to fulfil an enrolment agreement.
Legal Obligation: To comply with South African higher education laws.
Legitimate Interest: To maintain institutional operations and security.

4. Disclosure of Information
We may share your information with:

Service Providers: IT support, payment processors, and learning management system providers (under strict confidentiality agreements).
Academic Partners: For joint programmes or accreditation purposes, where anonymised or consented.
Regulatory Bodies: DHET, SAQA, and the Information Regulator, where legally required.

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information for marketing purposes.

5. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures—including access controls, encryption, and secure servers—to protect your information from unauthorised access, loss, or misuse.

6. Your Rights (Data Subject Rights)
Under POPIA, you have the right to:

Access the personal information we hold about you.
Request correction or deletion of inaccurate information.
Object to processing based on legitimate interest.
Withdraw consent (where processing is based on consent).
Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa).

To exercise these rights, contact our Information Officer at helpdesk@cornerstone.ac.za.

7. Cookies
Our website uses cookies to enhance user experience and analyse site traffic. You may adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies, though this may affect site functionality.

8. Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy periodically. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date.

9. Contact Us
For privacy-related queries:
Information Officer: A. Poroye, B. Lomberg & Z. Dyubeni
Email: helpdesk@cornerstone.ac.za
Phone: +27 (0)21 448 0050