Privacy consideration in design and use of online admissions software in higher education

Abstract

Higher Education institutes, all over the world are recruiting students by allowing them to apply through online system. The aim is to make admission process easier because there are many students come from other cities, even abroad. Most of higher education institutions believe that students who have grown up using digital technologies ("digital natives") have little concern for privacy of their data. This paper argues that “privacy” and “Right” are well established norms in all major jurisdictions and are keys to ensuring human dignity, safety and self-determination. Therefore, students’ personal data collected via online admission systems and its protection requires a holistic approach to system design and its use that incorporates a combination of legal, administrative, and technical safeguards.