Domain: Data Science Strategic Partnerships
Oversight Body: SayPro Qualification Accreditation Strategic Partnerships Office
SayPro places strong emphasis on ethical data practices, privacy protection, and the responsible use of information gathered during organisational performance monitoring, partner evaluation, and learner outcomes tracking. All data collection and reporting activities conform to strict ethical and data governance standards.
1. Ethical Clearance Procedures
- Approval Authority:
All performance monitoring and research-related activities conducted by SayPro and its partners undergo ethical screening by the SayPro Research Ethics and Compliance Committee (RECC). - Key Ethical Principles Applied:
- Informed consent from learners and staff where personal or survey data is collected
- Non-discrimination and respect for confidentiality
- Right to withdraw from study or survey without penalty
- Clear communication on purpose, use, and storage of data
- Documentation:
- Ethical clearance certificate issued for each major research or data collection initiative
- Ethical impact assessment report included in quarterly partner evaluations
- Regular audits to ensure adherence to international data protection laws (e.g., POPIA, GDPR)
2. Anonymised Data Handling and Proof
To protect the identity and privacy of learners, instructors, and partner staff, SayPro enforces strict anonymisation protocols across all data sets.
- Methods of Anonymisation:
- De-identification: Removal of names, contact information, ID numbers, and other personally identifiable information (PII)
- Data Masking: Obfuscation of sensitive data fields using hashed or pseudonymised identifiers
- Aggregated Reporting: Use of group-level statistics (e.g., average scores, completion rates) rather than individual-level data
- Controlled Access: Restricted internal access to raw data with audit trails to ensure compliance
- Proof of Anonymisation:
- Metadata sheets attached to each dataset showing fields anonymised
- Anonymisation protocol checklist completed and signed by Data Governance Officer
- Archival logs with date and method of anonymisation documented and stored in SayPro SharePoint
3. Compliance with Legal and International Standards
SayPro’s ethical clearance and data privacy protocols align with:
- Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) – South Africa
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – European Union
- OECD Guidelines on the Protection of Privacy and Transborder Flows of Personal Data
These standards guide SayPro’s processes around data retention periods, subject access requests, and third-party data handling agreements.
Summary of Key Evidence and Compliance Tools
| Ethical Practice Area | Tool / Proof | Compliance Output |
|---|---|---|
| Ethical Clearance | RECC Approval Certificate | Documented approval with study details |
| Informed Consent | Digital Consent Forms (Learners/Staff) | Stored with timestamp in secure system |
| Anonymisation | Metadata Sheets, Protocol Logs | Verified datasets with audit trail |
| Legal Compliance | GDPR/POPIA Mapping Checklist | Annual compliance review |
| Data Access & Storage | Encrypted Storage + Access Logs | IT system logs with access control |
Statement from SayPro Strategic Partnerships Office:
“SayPro is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in all data collection and reporting activities. No identifiable personal data is shared or published without consent, and anonymisation protocols are rigorously enforced across all strategic partnerships.”
— SayPro Data Governance and Compliance Team
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