Job Applicant Privacy

How ATU uses the personal data of job applicants

INTRODUCTION

We are Atlantic Technological University (ATU). We provide third-level education and teaching and facilitate learning that is informed by research and promotes excellence at all levels of higher education within the National Framework of Qualifications and as set out in the Technological Universities Act 2018.

ATU is the Data Controller of your personal data and is subject to the Data Protection Acts 1988 to 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679. For further information on how we process your personal data, please see ATU’s Data Protection Policy.

As an applicant for a position in ATU (“the University”), your personal data will be processed by the University for various reasons including to administer your job application, verify the information provided, assess your suitability for the role and communicate a recruitment decision to you.

As part of the transparency principle of the GDPR, you have the right to be fully informed about the use of your personal data in advance of applying for a position in ATU. This privacy notice outlines the types of personal data we will process, the purposes for which that personal data is required, third parties with whom we’ll share your data, how long your data will be retained by us, etc.

 

THE INFORMATION WE PROCESS ABOUT YOU

The types of personal data we process about you include, inter alia:

  • Title, name, address, telephone numbers, email address
  • Educational & employment history, qualifications, professional body memberships/courses, academic achievements, research & publication lists, referees, notice period, additional information you choose to provide
  • Shortlisting notes, interview notes, notes relating to other assessment methods, scores
  • Information relating to employment permit
  • Information relating to hosting agreement
  • References
  • Garda vetting disclosure
  • Equal opportunities monitoring information
  • Image in CCTV

Where relevant, we also process some special category (sensitive) data about you, including:

  • Pre-employment medical information
  • Disability information (if you require reasonable accommodations)

Data is stored in a variety of places, including on your application record and in relevant HR management systems including University email.

 

HOW WE OBTAIN YOUR PERSONAL DATA

We obtain your personal data directly from you, for example when you submit your job application, send us your CV, complete Garda vetting forms and through interview or other methods of assessment.

We also obtain your personal data indirectly from referees, University-nominated medical professionals, and the Garda Vetting Bureau. Information is sought from these third parties only if a job offer is made to you.

We also process personal data about you through your use of our website – please read our Website Privacy Policy for more details.

 

PURPOSES FOR WHICH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION ARE USED 

  • For recruitment and selection purposes with a view to entering into a contractual relationship with you.
  • For compliance with legal obligations, for example: - to ensure you are eligible to work with vulnerable adults & children - to ensure you are eligible to work in Ireland - for the monitoring of our equal opportunity obligations*
  • For the performance of tasks to which you have given your explicit consent, for example: - the provision of reasonable accommodations during the recruitment process in respect of your disability*
  • For the legitimate interests of ATU and third parties, for example: - to respond to and defend against legal claims - for CCTV purposes.

*Please note this data is not used in the recruitment decision-making process.

 

THIRD PARTIES WITH WHOM WE SHARE YOUR DATA

Your personal data is held securely by us and access is restricted to those staff members who need the personal data for one of the purposes set out above.

The University will share your personal data, where necessary and relevant, with third parties (outside ATU) in the following circumstances:

  • Where we contract a third party to process data on our behalf, for example software service providers (e.g. CoreHR), Archiving companies, CCTV companies, etc,
  • Where the data is required in the normal course of performing recruitment and selection functions e.g.
    • Companies or individuals providing recruitment, interview and assessment services
    • Referees (assessing suitability)
    • An Garda Síochána (vetting)
    • Department of Justice & Equality/INIS visa (employment permit/visa)
    • Governing Body (for appointment approval - successful candidate only)
  • Where required to do so by law (e.g. for auditing purposes).

 

TRANSFERS OUTSIDE THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA (EEA)

In so far as is practicable, ATU endeavours to hold all personal data within the EEA. Where we transfer data outside the EEA, we ensure that there is an appropriate mechanism for doing so that complies with all relevant legislation and also ensure that your data receives the same level of protection as it is afforded within the EEA.

 

DATA RETENTION

Successful candidates who accept an offer of employment with ATU

Your personal data is held permanently by the University. Interview recommendation sheets are retained permanently.

Unsuccessful candidates

Your information is retained for 2 years from the closing date of the competition and is cleared down from the system. Your applicant account is also deleted, save where you have an ongoing application with the University. Where this applies, you will be required to register again to use the service.

 

YOUR RIGHTS

You have the following rights under data protection law, although your ability to exercise these rights may be subject to certain conditions:

  • The right to receive a copy of and/or access the personal data that ATU holds about you, together with other information about our processing of that data;
  • The right to request that any inaccurate data that is held about you is corrected and incomplete data updated;
  • The right, in certain circumstances, to request that we erase your personal data;
  • The right, in certain circumstances, to request that we no longer process your personal data for particular purposes, or to object to our use of your personal data or the way in which we process it;
  • The right, in certain circumstances, to transfer your personal data to another organisation;
  • The right to object to automated decision making and/or profiling; and
  • The right to complain to the Data Protection Commissioner.

In order to exercise any of the above rights please contact us using the contact details set out below.

 

QUESTIONS & COMPLAINTS

If you are not satisfied with the University’s handling of your personal data or believe that the requirements of data protection legislation may not be fully complied with, you should contact the University’s Data Protection Office in the first instance. You also have the right to submit a complaint to the Data Protection Commission.

 

DATA PROTECTION OFFICER (DPO)

Please contact us if you have any questions about the data we hold about you or if you wish to exercise any of your rights:

Data Protection Officer
Email: dataprotection@atu.ie
Tel: +353 (0)91 742 747

 

DATA CONTROLLER

Atlantic Technological University (ATU)
Westport Road, Castlebar, Co Mayo, F23 X853
Email: info@atu.ie

 

Changes to this Privacy Statement

We will update this privacy statement from time to time. Please visit this page periodically for updates. Updated on 1st April, 2022