Privacy policy | Sintieh Research Academy

Sintieh Research Academy (“SRA”, “we”, “us” or “our”) respects your privacy and protects your personal data. This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, share and safeguard information when you visit sra.shineltd.org, use our forms or take part in our courses, studies and services. By using the website or our services you agree to the practices described here. The terms of service follow the policy on this page.

1. Information we collect

Personal identification: name, email address, phone number, institutional affiliation and professional qualifications, when you contact us, register for a course or apply to the expert network.
Research data: anonymised or pseudonymised data collected through studies, surveys or audits, with your explicit consent and under an approved protocol.
Technical data: IP address, browser type, operating system, referring pages, device information and usage data, through cookies and similar technologies.
Communication data: records of your correspondence with us, including messages sent through the contact, feedback and newsletter forms on this site. Form submissions are stored on our website and emailed to our team.

2. How we use your information

To provide and maintain our courses, mentorship and research services.
To reply to your messages and provide support.
To tell you about changes to our services or policies.
To analyse how the website is used and improve it.
To detect, prevent and address technical problems.
For research, with the appropriate consent and ethical approval.

3. Sharing and disclosure

Service providers: third parties that perform services on our behalf, such as hosting, email delivery and data analysis, under contracts that protect your data.
Research collaboration: academic or institutional partners in joint projects, always under a data protection agreement.
Legal compliance: where the law requires it or in response to a valid request from a public authority.
With your consent: for any other purpose you have explicitly agreed to.

We do not sell personal data.

4. Data security

We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data: encryption in transit and at rest, regular security updates, access controls and authentication, and storage with reputable providers. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

5. Your rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:

Access: request a copy of your personal data.
Rectification: ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
Erasure: ask us to delete your personal data, subject to legal limits.
Restriction: ask us to limit how we process your data.
Objection: object to our processing of your data.
Portability: ask for your data in a form you can transfer to another organisation.
Withdrawal of consent: withdraw consent at any time where processing relies on it.

To exercise any of these rights, write to info@sra.shineltd.org. We reply within two working days and act within one month.

6. Cookies

The website uses a small number of cookies and similar technologies. Strictly necessary cookies keep the site working (for example, remembering that you dismissed the announcements bar for this visit). Analytics cookies, set through Google Site Kit, help us understand which pages are used; they are only set where the law allows or where you have agreed. You can refuse cookies in your browser settings; some parts of the site may then work less well.

7. Retention

Messages sent through our forms are kept for two years and then deleted, unless they relate to an ongoing course, project or legal matter. Research data are kept for the period stated in the study protocol. Newsletter addresses are kept until you unsubscribe.

8. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Changes take effect when they are posted on this page, and the “last updated” date above changes with them.

Contact

Questions about this policy or your data: info@sra.shineltd.org, WhatsApp +237 672 232 262, phone +237 680 338 598, or by post to Sintieh Research Academy, Ub Street 2, opposite Cite Ninos Annex, Buea, South West Region, Cameroon.

Terms of service

1. Acceptance of terms

By accessing or using the services of Sintieh Research Academy, including this website and our courses, mentorship, research and consultancy, you agree to these terms. If you do not agree, please do not use our services.

2. Services

SRA provides research training and mentorship, research design and delivery, data collection and analysis, scientific writing and publication support, and research consultancy. Specific services may be subject to a separate written agreement, which takes precedence where it differs from these terms.

3. Your obligations

Provide accurate and complete information when you register or apply.
Keep any account credentials confidential.
Comply with applicable laws and with research ethics requirements.
Do not use our services for fraudulent, harmful or illegal purposes, attempt to compromise our systems, or infringe intellectual property rights.

4. Research participation

Taking part in a study is voluntary. Every study has its own informed consent procedure and approval from the relevant ethics committee, and complies with applicable regulations. Participants may withdraw at any time without penalty.

5. Intellectual property

Research methods, training materials, software tools, publications and branding provided by SRA are the property of SRA or its licensors and are protected by intellectual property law. For collaborative research, intellectual property and authorship are set out in a separate agreement, following ICMJE authorship criteria.

6. Data ownership

Ownership of research data depends on the nature of the collaboration, funding agreements, institutional policies and participant consent. Unless a written agreement says otherwise, partners who commission a study own its data. All data handling follows the privacy policy above and applicable data protection law.

7. Disclaimers

Services are provided “as is” without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, or the accuracy or completeness of research findings. We do not guarantee that the website will be uninterrupted, secure or free of errors.

8. Limitation of liability

To the extent permitted by law, SRA is not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages, for loss of profits, data, use or goodwill, or for damage resulting from unauthorised access to or alteration of your transmissions or data.

9. Termination

We may suspend or end your access to our services without notice if you breach these terms. Your right to use the services ends at that point.

10. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of Cameroon. Disputes are resolved in the courts of Buea, South West Region, Cameroon.

11. Changes to these terms

We may change these terms by posting the updated version on this page and changing the date above. Continued use of our services after a change means you accept the new terms.

Questions about these terms: info@sra.shineltd.org.

Privacy policy and terms of service