Privacy policy

I. Definitions

• cookies – small text files stored on a user’s device while browsing websites. They perform various functions – from optimising the operation of a website and personalising content to monitoring user activity for analytical purposes;
• personal data, data  – information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person. An identifiable natural person is a person who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name and surname, an identification number, location data, an online identifier or one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person;
• AB – awarding body;
• data processing – any operation or set of operations performed on personal data or sets of personal data, whether or not by automated means, such as collection, recording, organisation, structuring, storage, adaptation or alteration, retrieval, consultation, use, disclosure by transmission, dissemination or otherwise making available, alignment or combination, restriction, erasure or destruction;
• EQA body – external quality assurance body;
• GDPR – Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) (OJ EU L 119, p. 1, as amended);
• IQS Act – the Act of 22 December 2015 on the Integrated Qualifications System;
• user – any person who uses the IQS portal, the IQR and the digital tools made available within the IQR, whether or not they require an account to be created. Simply accessing the IQS or IQR portal means that the person becomes a user;
• IQR – Integrated Qualifications Register;
• IQS – Integrated Qualifications System.

II. General information

Under the IQS Act (Article 89(1)(7)), the tasks of the minister responsible for education, acting as the Minister-Coordinator of the IQS, include maintaining the Integrated Qualifications System portal (kwalifikacje.gov.pl). Pursuant to Article 89(2) of the IQS Act, the Minister may authorise the Educational Research Institute – National Research Institute (IBE PIB) to perform this task. IBE PIB also maintains the Integrated Qualifications Register (IQR), which, pursuant to Article 82(1) of the IQS Act, is made available via the Integrated Qualifications System portal. The IQR is a public register that provides key information on all qualifications awarded by schools and higher education institutions, as well as qualifications outside the education system – market, sectoral, craft and regulated qualifications – that have been included in the Integrated Qualifications System.

The IQS portal provides public access to data collected in the IQR and to digital tools supporting users of the portal and the register, including the Sectoral Vocational Education Compass and the ZeteRKa chatbot. The portal provides:

1. information packages useful to awarding bodies, applicants, ministry staff and higher education institutions, 
2. information on opportunities to obtain funding for validation, 
3. information on ongoing consultations concerning applications for the inclusion of qualifications,
4. instructions on using tools linked to the IQR, as well as adapting them to the needs of different groups of institutional and individual users. 

The IQS portal enables users to submit all types of applications provided for in the IQS Act using the IQR e-applications tool available on the portal.

III. Personal data controllers

IQS portal

The controller of personal data processed on the IQS portal is the Minister of Education (hereinafter: the “Minister”), with its registered office in Warsaw at 25 Jana Chrystiana Szucha Avenue, 00-918 Warsaw.

Contact details of the controller: email: kancelaria@men.gov.pl or by correspondence sent to the controller’s registered office address.

Information on personal data processed by the Minister is provided by the Data Protection Officer, who can be contacted by email at: inspektor@men.gov.pl.

The entity processing personal data on the IQS portal on behalf of the controller is the Educational Research Institute – National Research Institute (hereinafter: “IBE PIB”), with its registered office in Warsaw at 8 Górczewska Street, 01-180 Warsaw.

Information on personal data processed on behalf of the Minister is also provided by the Data Protection Officer of IBE PIB, who can be contacted by email at: iod@ibe.edu.pl or by correspondence sent to the controller’s registered office address.

Integrated Qualifications Register 

IBE PIB, with its registered office in Warsaw at 8 Górczewska Street, 01-180 Warsaw, is the controller of personal data in relation to the Integrated Qualifications Register. 

Contact details of the controller: email: ibe@ibe.edu.pl or by correspondence sent to the controller’s registered office address.

Information on personal data processed in the IQR is provided by the Data Protection Officer, who can be contacted by email at: iod@ibe.edu.pl or by correspondence sent to the controller’s registered office address.

IV. Purposes and legal bases for processing personal data

IQS portal

We process personal data for the following purposes:

1. to comply with the legal obligation to maintain the IQS portal, on the basis of Article 6(1)(c) GDPR in conjunction with Article 89(1)(7) of the IQS Act;  
2. for analytical and statistical purposes, on the basis of Article 6(1)(f) GDPR – the legitimate interest of the controller consisting in analysing the activity and preferences of portal users in order to improve the portal’s functionalities and to ensure the security of the data and the portal;
3. to collect opinions on the operation of the portal and enable participation in free online training on lifelong learning, on the basis of Article 6(1)(a) GDPR – consent.

Integrated Qualifications Register

We process personal data for the following purposes:

1. to comply with the legal obligation to maintain the IQR, on the basis of Article 6(1)(c) GDPR in conjunction with Articles 82a and 87(1)(6) of the IQS Act;
2. for analytical and statistical purposes, on the basis of Article 6(1)(f) GDPR – the legitimate interest of the controller consisting in analysing the activity and preferences of IQR users in order to improve the IQR’s functionalities and to ensure the security of the data and the IQR.

Various tools are available within the IQR. Some of our tools can be used without creating an account. These include:

• Zeterka chatbot –  available on the Integrated Qualifications Register website. It asks questions, learns about the user’s aptitudes and interests, and suggests the most suitable learning pathways and qualifications. Zeterka also answers questions about the qualifications register and the Integrated Qualifications System.
• Sectoral Vocational Education Compass – helps students choose a vocational education pathway. The application contains information on more than 200 occupations to support their decision. This includes, among other things, a list of schools preparing students for work in particular occupations, a list of expectations for people working in a given occupation, and the advantages and disadvantages of working in that occupation. The application can also be used by parents, teachers and careers advisers. 
  szkolnictwo.ibe.edu.pl
• Qualifications of Tomorrow – A Practical Guide helps users learn about the various functionalities of the Integrated Qualifications Register (IQR). It explains how to use the register when planning education and career pathways, and how to connect a person’s competences, talents and interests with labour market expectations. The guide was developed for careers advisers supporting young people and adults.
  przewodnikzrk.ibe.edu.pl 
• Little IQR – was designed for students and teachers. Students of different ages can find suitable qualifications and badges. Teachers in pre-schools, primary schools and secondary schools can use lesson plans on lifelong learning and career development planning.
  malezrk.ibe.edu.pl 
• Qualification Frameworks Browser – provides information on the Polish Qualifications Framework (PQF) and Sectoral Qualifications Frameworks (SQFs). It enables users to compare different PQF and SQF levels and the related requirements concerning knowledge, skills and social competences. The browser supports, among others, experts who assign PQF levels to qualifications and teachers who develop curricula and syllabuses. 
• I Know What I Can Do –  addresses the needs of young people. It helps users understand that we gain experience every day that may be useful later in life, and that valuable skills can also be developed through hobbies or involvement in activities for others. Users can find badges linked to various areas, such as “Social Media Creator”, “Friend of the Baltic Sea”, “Community