Last updated: 27/06/2005

1. Who We Are

The Metaverse Academy is an Erasmus+ project co-funded by the European Union (Project No. 101140232). It is dedicated to fostering academic and professional excellence in immersive technologies—including virtual, augmented, mixed, and extended realities. The Academy seeks to address the pressing skills gap in this domain by offering innovative, cross-disciplinary training and enabling collaboration between academia and industry across Europe and beyond.

The project brings together a consortium of thirteen partners from seven EU and associated countries, as well as one non-EU partner. These partners are working together to design, test, and implement a comprehensive curriculum of nineteen entrepreneurial courses covering the full XR technology spectrum. The project runs from February 2024 to January 2027.

The Metaverse Academy is coordinated by Bursa Eskişehir Bilecik Kalkınma Ajansı (BEBKA) in Türkiye. BEBKA, together with 12 other project partners, is responsible for processing personal data collected and used throughout the project’s activities. Each consortium partner retains responsibility for any data they collect and process under the scope of the project. All parties are committed to ensuring the protection and lawful use of personal information.

If you would like to learn more about the project, please visit our official website: http://metaverse-academy.tech

2. How We Collect Personal Data

We collect personal data through both direct and indirect means. Direct collection occurs when individuals subscribe to our newsletters, register for project events or webinars, participate in surveys, interviews, or other research activities, or otherwise contact us with queries or requests for information. These interactions allow us to gather personal data such as names, contact details, professional information, or opinions.

We may also collect personal data indirectly from our project partners, professional networks, publicly available resources such as websites or registries, and from social or professional platforms like LinkedIn. These sources may provide relevant personal or professional information that helps support the implementation and communication objectives of the project.

3. Types of Personal Data We Collect

The Metaverse Academy only collects personal data that is essential to its functioning, communications, outreach, and research efforts. This data may include contact details such as names, email addresses, telephone numbers, or mailing addresses; professional information such as job titles, organizational affiliations, or fields of expertise; demographic data like age, nationality, or gender (when voluntarily provided); and visual or audio recordings taken during events, webinars, or interviews in which individuals participate and agree to be recorded. In all cases, we take care to ensure that only necessary and proportionate data are collected. We do not share personal data with the public. If data is ever made public in the context of project dissemination or reporting (e.g. statistics, testimonials), it is aggregated and/or anonymised to ensure individual privacy and compliance with GDPR.

4. Lawful Basis for Processing

All personal data collected and processed as part of the Metaverse Academy project is handled in accordance with the principles set forth by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Our processing activities are based on legal obligations under the European Union Policies, particularly those related to reporting, publicity, and dissemination requirements. In some instances, processing is based on individuals’ explicit consent, such as when they participate in interviews or surveys, or subscribe to receive project updates. We also rely on legitimate interest where necessary for security, event administration, or communication purposes, always ensuring that data subjects’ rights and freedoms are respected.

5. How We Use Your Personal Data

The personal data we collect serves specific purposes directly related to the objectives and implementation of the project. This includes organizing and managing events, webinars, and online or in-person courses; conducting project-related surveys or interviews; disseminating results and research findings to stakeholders and the public; responding to enquiries and requests from interested parties; ensuring the security and performance of our online services; and complying with obligations towards the European Commission and other regulatory bodies. All data is used strictly within the context of the project and never for unrelated or commercial purposes.

6. How We Protect Your Personal Data

The security of personal data is a priority for the Metaverse Academy. All partners implement both technical and organizational measures to prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction of data. These measures may include secure access controls, encrypted communications, data backup and recovery processes, and the adoption of clear internal policies for staff and researchers. In many cases, project partners also appoint Data Protection Officers (DPOs) to ensure compliance and accountability in data processing activities. Our goal is to ensure that every reasonable step is taken to minimize data protection risks throughout the project lifecycle.

7. Sharing of Personal Data

In order to fulfill the project’s goals, we may need to share personal data with third-party service providers, such as online platforms used for newsletters, surveys, or cloud-based collaboration. These providers are only engaged after confirming their compliance with GDPR standards and entering into relevant data protection agreements. In addition, data may be shared with the European Commission or related national agencies in the context of project reporting, auditing, and evaluation. At no point do we sell or exploit personal data for commercial gain. Any sharing of personal information is conducted with transparency, necessity, and a strong commitment to privacy.

8. Transfers of Data Outside the EU/EEA

Some of our partners and service providers may operate outside the European Economic Area (EEA), including in countries such as Israel or South Africa. Where such transfers occur, we ensure that adequate safeguards are in place, either through adequacy decisions issued by the European Commission or via the use of standard contractual clauses. For example, data processed through services like Google, Mailchimp, or Microsoft SharePoint is done under strict conditions to ensure the same level of data protection as required within the EU. We are committed to ensuring that all cross-border transfers of data are lawful and secure.

9. Data Related to Children

The Metaverse Academy project is intended for adult learners, educators, and professionals. It does not knowingly collect personal data from children under the age of 13. Should we become aware that such data has been collected inadvertently, we will take prompt action to delete it. We strongly encourage parents or guardians to supervise children’s online activity and to contact us immediately if they suspect a child has submitted personal information via our platform.

10. Cookies and Website Usage

Our website uses cookies to enhance the user experience and gather basic analytics. Cookies are small text files that help remember user preferences, track website usage, and improve site functionality. When visiting our site, you may receive a notification requesting consent to the use of cookies, which you can accept or decline. You can also manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. Please note that disabling cookies may impact your experience on the website. In addition to our own cookies, third-party services may use similar technologies for analytics or embedded content, and their privacy policies will apply accordingly.

11. Your Data Protection Rights

As a data subject under the GDPR, you have several rights related to the personal data we process. You have the right to access your data, request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete data, and request the erasure of data where it is no longer needed or has been unlawfully processed. You also have the right to restrict or object to certain types of processing, particularly where it is based on legitimate interest or consent. Additionally, you may request a copy of your data in a portable format. If you wish to exercise any of these rights or have questions about your data, you may contact the project coordinator at BEBKA or reach out to any project partners via our website. We aim to respond to all requests within thirty calendar days.

12. Updates to this Policy

This privacy policy may be updated from time to time to reflect legal developments or changes in the project’s structure and practices. Any such updates will be published on our official website and will take effect from the date of publication. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how your data is protected.

For any privacy-related questions, please contact us through our website or refer to your nearest project partner.