Privacy statement for the International School Ruhr

1. Name and contact details of the data controller and the inhouse data protection officer.

This data protection information applies to the processing of data by:

data controller: International School Ruhr Management GmbH, Moltkeplatz 61, D-45138 Essen

The inhouse data protection officer of the International School Ruhr can be contacted at the above address, for the attention of Jonas Buol or at data-protection@is-ruhr.de.

2. Collection and storage of personal data as well as type and purpose of use

a) Visiting the website

When you visit our website www.is-ruhr.de the browser used on your device automatically sends information to the server of our website. The information is temporarily stored in a so-called log file. During this process, and without any intervention on your part, the following information is recorded and stored until its automatic deletion:

  • IP address of the enquiring computer,
  • date and time of access,
  • name and URL of the called-up file,
  • website from which access takes place (referrer URL),
  • browser used and, if and when required, the operating system of your computer as well as the name of your access provider.

We process the listed data for the following purposes:

  • to ensure easy access to the website,
  • to guarantee a comfortable use of our website,
  • to evaluate system security and stability as well as
  • for other administrative purposes.

The legal basis for processing your data is article 6 (1), sentence 1, letter (f) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It is within our legitimate interest to collect data for the above- mentioned purposes. Under no circumstances do we use the collected data in order to draw conclusions as to your identity.

Furthermore, whenever you visit our website you will find that we use cookies as well as analysis tools. Further explanations concerning this topic can be found in sections 4 and 5 of this privacy statement (hereinafter referred to as “Privacy Statement”).

b) Registering for our newsletter

If, according to article 6 (1) sentence 1, letter (a) of the GDPR, you have given your explicit consent, we use your e-mail address to regularly send you our newsletter. In order to receive the newsletter, you only need to provide us with an e-mail address.

You can unsubscribe at any time by, for example, using a link underneath each newsletter. Alternatively, you can let us know about your wish to unsubscribe by sending an e-mail to info@is-ruhr.de.

c) Using our contact form

Whenever you want to ask us a question, you have the option of using the contact form on our website. To do so you need to enter a valid e-mail address and your name so that we know where the enquiry comes from and can respond to it. You may supply further details if you want to.

The processing of data for the purpose of establishing contact with us takes place according to article 6 (1), sentence 1, letter (a) of the GDPR on the basis of your voluntary consent.

The personal data collected by us as part of the contact query is automatically deleted after your query has been dealt with.

3. Passing on data

Your personal data will never be passed on to third parties for purposes other than those listed below.

We will pass on your personal data to third parties only if:

  • you have given your explicit consent according to article 6 (1), sentence 1, letter (a) of the GDPR,
  • if, in accordance with article 6 (1), sentence 1, letter (c) of the GDPR, there is a legal obligation to do so and
  • if it is lawful and if, according to article 6 (1), sentence 1, letter (b) of the GDPR, it is required for establishing contractual relations with you.

4. Cookies

We use cookies on our website. These are small files that are automatically produced by your browser and that are stored on your device (laptop, tablet, smartphone, etc.) when you visit our website. Cookies do not damage your device; they do not contain viruses, trojans or other malware.

The cookie is used to file information that arises in connection with the specifically used device. This does however not mean that your identity is revealed to us.

On the one hand, cookies serve the purpose of making the use of our services more enjoyable for you. Hence, we use so-called “session cookies” to see that you have already visited some pages on our website. They are automatically deleted after you leave our website.

Furthermore, and in order to optimise user friendliness, we use temporary cookies, which are stored on your device for a set period of time. If you visit our website again to make use of our services, the cookies help us to realise that you have visited us before and what entries and settings you used; it prevents you from having to enter them again.

On the other hand, we use cookies to statistically record and evaluate the use of our website in order to improve our range of services for you (see section 5 hereunder). The cookies enable us to automatically realise, during your next visit, that you have paid us a visit before. The cookies are automatically deleted after a set period of time.

According to article 6 (1), sentence 1, letter (f) of the GDPR, the data processed by cookies is necessary for the aforementioned purposes in order to protect our legitimate interests as well as those of third parties.

Most browsers accept cookies automatically. You can, however, configure your browser in such a way that cookies are not stored on your computer or a notice appears each time a new cookie is created. If you disable cookies entirely, you may find yourself in a situation where you can no longer use all functions of our website.

5. Analysis tools

a) Tracking tools

The tracking measures used by us and listed below are carried out the basis of article 6 (1), sentence 1, letter (f) of the GDPR. Through the use of these tracking measures we want to ensure that our website meets relevant requirements and is continually improved. We also use the tracking tools to statistically record and evaluate the use of our website for the purpose of optimising our range of services for you. These interests are deemed to be legitimate pursuant to the aforementioned regulation.

Information about the respective data processing purposes and data categories can be obtained from the corresponding tracking tools.

i) Google Analytics

For the purpose of designing and continually improving our pages to meet expectations we use Google Analytics, a web analysis service provided by Google Inc. (https://www.google.de/intl/de/about/) (1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; hereinafter referred to as “Google“). This involves the creation of pseudonymised user profiles and the use of cookies (see section 4 hereunder). The information produced by the cookie concerning your use of this website such as

  • browser type/version,
  • operating system used,
  • referrer URL (the previously used page),
  • host name of the accessing computer (IP address),
  • time of the server enquiry,

is transmitted to and stored by a US-based Google server. The information is used in order to evaluate the use of the website, compile reports about website activities and provide further services associated with website and internet use in order to conduct market research and design these internet pages to meet user requirements. Furthermore, if and when required, this information is passed on to third parties as long as this is legally prescribed or as long as third parties process this data on our behalf. Under no circumstances will your IP address be combined with other Google data. The IP addresses are anonymised to prevent allocation (IP masking).
You can prevent the installation of cookies by adjusting the settings of your browser software accordingly; but you need to be aware that in such a case you may no longer be able to fully use all functions of this website.

You can furthermore prevent the recording of the data produced by the cookie and concerning your use of the website (including your IP address) as well as the processing of such data by Google if you download and install a browser add-on (https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de).

As an alternative to the browser add-on, in particular if you use browsers on mobile devices, you can prevent any recording by Google Analytics by clicking on this link. By doing so you set an opt-out cookie that prevents any future recording of your data while visiting this website. The opt-out cookie only works with this browser and only on our website and is filed on your device. If you delete the cookies in this browser, you need to set the opt-out cookie again.

Further information on data protection in connection with Google Analytics can be found under Google Analytics support (https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245?hl=de).

ii) Google AdWords Conversion Tracking

In order to statistically record and evaluate the use of our website for the purpose of optimising it for you, we also use Google Conversion Tracking. This involves the setting of a cookie on your computer by Google AdWords (see section 4 hereunder) as long as you visit our website via a Google ad.

These cookies lose their validity after 30 days and are not used for personal identification. If the user visits certain pages of the website of the AdWords customer and if the cookie has not yet expired, Google and the customer can see that the user has clicked on the ad and has been passed on to this page.

Each AdWords customer is given a different cookie. Cookies can therefore not be tracked via the websites of AdWords customers. The information obtained with the help of conversion cookies are used to produce conversion statistics for AdWords customers who have opted for conversion tracking. AdWords customers find out about the total number of users who have clicked on their ad and who have been passed on to a page with a conversion-tracking tag. They do, however, not obtain any information that would enable them to personally identify the user.

If you do not want to take part in the tracking process, you can reject the setting of the required cookie by choosing, for example, a browser setting that generally disables the automatic setting of cookies. You can also disable cookies for conversion tracking by adjusting your browser in a way that cookies are blocked by the domain of “www.googleadservices.com“. The data protection instructions of Google on conversion tracking can be found here (https://services.google.com/sitestats/de.html).

6. Social Media Plugins

Based on article 6 (1), sentence 1, letter (f) of the GDPR we use the social plugins of the social networks of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to enhance the public profile of our company. The underlying commercial purpose is deemed to be a legitimate interest pursuant to the GDPR. Their respective providers are responsible for ensuring that operations are in compliance with data protection rules. We install these plugins by using the so-called double-click method in order to protect visitors to our website as best as possible.

a) Facebook

Our website uses the social media plugins of Facebook to make their use more personal. To this end we use the “LIKE “or “SHARE” button. This is a service offered by Facebook.

Whenever you call up a page on our website that features such a plugin, your browser creates a direct link to the servers of Facebook. The content of the plugin is transmitted directly from Facebook to your browser, which inserts it in the website.

Through the integration of the plugins Facebook obtains the information that your browser has called up the corresponding page on our website even if you do not have a Facebook account or are not logged into Facebook at the time. This information (including your IP address) is transmitted directly by your browser to a server of Facebook in the US and stored there.

If you are logged into Facebook, Facebook can allocate the visit of our website directly to your Facebook account. If you interact with the plugins by, for example using the “LIKE “or “SHARE“ button, the corresponding information is also directly transmitted to a server of Facebook and stored there. Furthermore, the information is published on Facebook and shown to your Facebook friends.

Facebook may use this information for advertising, market research and the needs-based design of Facebook pages. To this end Facebook produces usage, interest and relationship profiles in order to, for example, evaluate your use of our website with regard to the ads displayed for you on Facebook, to inform other Facebook users about your activities on our website and to provide other services associated with the use of Facebook.

If you do not want Facebook to allocate the data collected about our website to your Facebook account, you need to log out of Facebook prior to visiting our website.

To find out about the purpose and scope of the data collection and the further processing and use of the data by Facebook as well as your respective rights and the settings available to protect your privacy, please view the privacy instructions (https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/) of Facebook.

b) Twitter

Our internet pages contain plugins for the short messaging service offered by Twitter Inc. (Twitter). You recognise the Twitter plugins (tweet button) by the Twitter logo on our page. An overview of the Tweet buttons can be found here (https://about.twitter.com/resources/buttons).

Whenever you call up a page on our website that contains such a plugin, a direct link is created between your browser and the Twitter server. This way Twitter receives the information that you have visited our website with your IP address. If you click on the Twitter tweet button while you are logged into your Twitter account, you can link the content of our pages with your Twitter profile. This helps Twitter to allocate the visit of our pages to your user account. Please be aware that we as the provider of the pages are not told about the content of the transmitted data and their use by Twitter.

If you do not want Twitter to be able to allocate the visit of our pages, please log out of your Twitter user account.

Further information on this topic can be found in privacy statement of Twitter (https://twitter.com/privacy).

c) Instagram

Our website also uses so-called social plugins of Instagram, which is operated by Instagram LLC., 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA (“Instagram“).

The plugins are marked with an Instagram logo in the shape of an “Instagram camera” for example.

Whenever you call up a page on our website that contains such a plugin, a direct link is created between your browser and the Instagram servers. The content of the Plugin is transmitted directly from Instagram to your browser and integrated into the page. This way Instagram receives the information that your browser has called up the corresponding page on our website even if you do not have an Instagram profile or are not logged into Instagram at the time.

This information (including your IP address) is transmitted directly from your browser to a server of Instagram in the US and stored there. If you are logged into Instagram, Instagram can allocate the visit of our website directly to your Instagram account. If you interact with the plugins by, for example using the Instagram button, the corresponding information is also directly transmitted to a server of Instagram and stored there.

Furthermore, the information is published on your Instagram account and shown to your contacts there.

If you do not want Instagram to allocate the data collected about our website to your Instagram account, you need to log out of Instagram prior to visiting our website.

Further information on this topic can be found in the privacy statement (https://help.instagram.com/155833707900388) of Instagram.

7. Rights of data subjects

You have the right:

• according to article 15 of the GDPR, to obtain information about your personal data that has been processed by us. You may, in particular, request information about the purposes of the processing, the category of the personal data, the categories of the recipients to whom your data has or will be disclosed and the planned period during which the data will be stored; you have the right to request that processing is rectified, erased or restricted; you also may object to such processing; you have the right to lodge a complaint and to find out about the source of your data if it has not been collected by us, as well as about the existence of automated decision making including profiling and, if and when required, the right to meaningful information about the details involved;

  • according to article 16 of the GDPR, to obtain, without undue delay, rectification of inaccurate personal data stored by us or to have incomplete personal data stored by us completed;
  • according to article 17 of the GDPR, to obtain the erasure of personal data stored by us unless the processing of such data is required in order to exercise the right of freedom of expression and information, to comply with a legal obligation, for reasons of public interest or to assert, exercise or defend legal claims;
  • according to article 18 of the GDPR, to have the processing of your personal data restricted if the accuracy of the data is contested by you, if the processing is unlawful but you oppose erasure and we no longer need the data that is required by you to assert, exercise or defend legal claims or if you, according to article 21 of the GDPR, have objected to processing;
  • according to article 20 of the GDPR, to receive the personal data that you have made available to us in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format or to request transmission to another controller;
  • according to article 7 section 3 of the GDPR, to withdraw, at any time, the consent given to us. As a consequence, we are no longer permitted to continue with the data processing that was based on your consent and
  • according to article 77 of the GDPR, you may lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. As a rule, you may turn to the supervisory authority at your habitual residence or place of work or the seat of our company.

8. Right to object

If your personal data is processed on the basis of legitimate interests as set out in article 6 (1), sentence 1, letter (f) of the GDPR, you have the right, according to article 21 of the GDPR, to object to the processing of your personal data on grounds relating to your special situation of if your objection refers to direct marketing. In the latter case you have a general right to object that will be implemented by us without you needing to cite a special situation.

If you want to make use of your right of withdrawal or right to object, you simply need to send us an e-mail data-protection@is-ruhr.de.

9. Data security

During any visit to our website, you will realise that we use the popular SSL (Secure Socket Layer) procedure in connection with the respective highest level of encryption that is supported by your browser. This tends to be a 256-bit encryption. If your browser does not support 256-bit encryption, we use the 128-bit v3 technology instead. A closed key or padlock icon in the bottom status bar of your browser indicates an encrypted transmission of an individual website page.

In addition, we use appropriate technical and organisational security measures in order to protect your data against accidental or deliberate manipulations, partial or complete loss, destruction or against the unauthorised access of third parties. Our security measures are continuously improved in line with technological progress.

10. Up-to-dateness of and changes to this Privacy Statement

This Privacy Statement has been issued in May 2018 and is currently up-to-date.

Due to further improvements of our website and range of services or due to changing statutory rules or regulatory standards we may need to change this Privacy Statement. You may, at any time, access and print out the respective current version of the Privacy Statement that is featured on our website at www.is-ruhr.de.

    I agree to the data processing for the purpose of contacting me. I can revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future. Details can be found in the privacy policy.