There is a distinction to be made though between confirming dates of
study, and qualifications awarded. The award of degrees for example is
put into the public domain, a student simply attending a particular
institution is not. We are currently having a lot of problems with
people claiming they have, or are about to, study here in the UK in
order to get a visa into the country from overseas. So I would be
conscious of the fact that a decision made for one very good reason, may
have knock-on implications in other areas.
-----Original Message-----
From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nick Landau
Sent: 12 July 2006 10:27
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [data-protection] Question for HEIs re confirmation of
Awards
If someone claims to have a qualification eg a degree, I would have
thought that is certainly a matter of public record - and personally I
would have thought that anybody should be able to check with the issuing
body.
I personally have had the opposite experience where despite having
worked at organisations, former managers have made difficulties about
supplying a reference.
This is clearly a serious disability as most references are, as in the
student examples, to confirm the bare bones of someone's employment
history.
An excuse was given that they didn't have the records. This was clearly
specious as whilst they might have not had the records relating to work
undertaken, they must have records of my employment for pension (and
other) purposes.
This was prior to FoI (but not before DPA) - and, no doubt, the
individual could request records from a public organisation concerning
themselves about their own employment.
Nick Landau
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tinsley, Chris" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2006 10:09 AM
Subject: Re: [data-protection] Question for HEIs re confirmation of
Awards
Is the information, if released, likely to cause any harm to the
student? After all the results of exams are usually published in the
local press. If all you are doing is releasing information to confirm
that a certain student studied a certain subject during a certain period
of time you would generally not need explicit consent to release the
info as it would come under non-sensitive data. Not sure we need to get
a signature for every bit of data we may have to release.
If the agency wishes to obtain much more data the situation may change.
We should not make ourselves jump through hoops everytime we are asked
for something.
Chris Tinsley
Wiltshire County Council
-----Original Message-----
From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mandi Barron
Sent: 12 July 2006 09:54
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [data-protection] Question for HEIs re confirmation of Awards
All
Currently we receive numerous requests from employment agencies and
employers asking us to confirm that a student has indeed studied with
us. We currently ask for the student's written authority to release this
information however this causes a lot of work and prolongs the process.
My question is this. As the agency/employer etc has been provided with
the information by the student already, and we are just confirming these
details, do we actually need to obtain the student's written authority
to release, or is this implied by the student supplying the info in the
first place?
In such cases can we confirm without the students explicit consent?
And what about cases where we are not provided with dates and programme
of study, just that the student has claimed he is an ex-student of the
University? Could we confirm or deny that and provide details of the
programmes and dates of study if appropriate? This is different to the
first scenario in that we would be disclosing (rather than confirming)
personal information without explicit consent, however it could be
argued that this is preventing fraud?
Any thoughts would be appreciated
Mandi
Mandi Barron
Assistant Registrar (Regulation) and Information Officer
Bournemouth University, Registry
1st Floor Melbury House, 1-3 Oxford Road
Bournemouth, BH8 8ES
tel: +44 (0) 1202 961076 fax: +44 (0) 1202 961066
email: [log in to unmask]
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
All archives of messages are stored permanently and are
available to the world wide web community at large at
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/data-protection.html
If you wish to leave this list please send the command
leave data-protection to [log in to unmask]
All user commands can be found at : -
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/help/commandref.htm
Any queries about sending or receiving message please send to the list
owner
[log in to unmask]
(all commands go to [log in to unmask] not the list please)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
**********************************************************************
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they
are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify
the system manager.
This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by
MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses.
www.mimesweeper.com
**********************************************************************
Please do not print out this e-mail unless absolutely necessary. Save
energy
and paper!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
All archives of messages are stored permanently and are
available to the world wide web community at large at
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/data-protection.html
If you wish to leave this list please send the command
leave data-protection to [log in to unmask]
All user commands can be found at : -
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/help/commandref.htm
Any queries about sending or receiving message please send to the list
owner
[log in to unmask]
(all commands go to [log in to unmask] not the list please)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
All archives of messages are stored permanently and are
available to the world wide web community at large at
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/data-protection.html
If you wish to leave this list please send the command
leave data-protection to [log in to unmask]
All user commands can be found at : -
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/help/commandref.htm
Any queries about sending or receiving message please send to the list
owner
[log in to unmask]
(all commands go to [log in to unmask] not the list please)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This message is for the use of the intended recipient(s) only.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete it.The British Council accepts no liability for loss or damage caused by software viruses and you are advised to carry out a virus check on any attachments contained in this message. Our purpose is to build mutually beneficial relationships between people in the UK and other countries and to increase appreciation of the UK's creative ideas and achievements. The British Council is registered in England as a charity.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
All archives of messages are stored permanently and are
available to the world wide web community at large at
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/data-protection.html
If you wish to leave this list please send the command
leave data-protection to [log in to unmask]
All user commands can be found at : -
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/help/commandref.htm
Any queries about sending or receiving message please send to the list owner
[log in to unmask]
(all commands go to [log in to unmask] not the list please)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|