Terms and Conditions

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using the EduPath-AI College Recommendation System ("the System"), you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions, as well as our Data Privacy Notice.

These terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User," "Student," "you") and EduPath-AI ("we," "us," "our").

2. Scope and Purpose of the System

EduPath-AI is an educational recommendation system designed to assist Senior High School (SHS) students in the Philippines in identifying suitable college programs based on:

• Academic performance (grades and GPA)
• SHS strand and subject specialization
• Personal interests, skills, and career goals
• Personality assessment results
• Machine learning algorithms and predictive analytics

Purpose: The System provides guidance and recommendations only. It does not guarantee admission to any college or university, nor does it replace professional academic counseling.

3. User Eligibility and Account Registration

3.1 Eligibility

To use EduPath-AI, you must:

• Be a current or former Senior High School student in the Philippines.
• Be at least 16 years of age (or have parental/guardian consent if under 18).
• Provide accurate and truthful information during registration.
• Have a valid email address for account verification and communication.

3.2 Account Registration

When you register for an account, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information.
• Maintain and promptly update your account information.
• Keep your password secure and confidential.
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account.
• Accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account.

3.3 One Account Per User

Each user is allowed only one account. Creating multiple accounts using different email addresses or usernames is prohibited and may result in account suspension or termination.

4. User Responsibilities and Acceptable Use

4.1 Responsible Use

You agree to use the System in a responsible and lawful manner. You must:

• Provide accurate and honest information about your academic performance, interests, and preferences.
• Use the System solely for its intended purpose (college program recommendations).
• Respect the privacy and rights of other users, teachers, and administrators.
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (RA 10173).

4.2 Prohibited Activities

You agree NOT to engage in any of the following prohibited activities:

• Unauthorized Access: Attempting to access accounts, data, or system areas that you are not authorized to access.
• Data Manipulation: Falsifying grades, test scores, or other academic information to manipulate recommendations.
• System Abuse: Using automated scripts, bots, or tools to scrape data, overload the system, or disrupt its operation.
• Security Breaches: Attempting to hack, exploit vulnerabilities, or bypass security measures.
• Impersonation: Pretending to be another user, teacher, counselor, or administrator.
• Malicious Content: Uploading viruses, malware, or any harmful code.
• Harassment: Harassing, threatening, or abusing other users or staff members.
• Intellectual Property Violation: Copying, distributing, or modifying system content without permission.
• Commercial Use: Using the System for commercial purposes, advertising, or solicitation without authorization.

5. Data Ownership and Handling Responsibilities

5.1 Your Data

You retain ownership of the personal data you provide to the System. However, by using the System, you grant us a limited license to:

• Process your data to generate college program recommendations.
• Store your data securely in our databases.
• Use anonymized and aggregated data for research, analytics, and system improvement.

5.2 Data Accuracy

You are responsible for ensuring that the information you provide is accurate, complete, and up-to-date. Inaccurate data may result in incorrect or misleading recommendations.

5.3 Teacher-Uploaded Grades

Your assigned teachers may upload your academic grades to the System. You acknowledge that:

• Teachers have the authority to input and update your grades.
• You should verify the accuracy of uploaded grades and report any discrepancies to your teacher or school administration.
• EduPath-AI is not responsible for errors in grades uploaded by teachers.

5.4 Data Privacy Compliance

We handle your personal data in accordance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173) and our Data Privacy Notice. By using the System, you consent to the collection, processing, and storage of your data as described in the Privacy Notice.

6. Recommendations and Disclaimers

6.1 Nature of Recommendations

The college program recommendations provided by EduPath-AI are:

• Guidance Only: Recommendations are suggestions based on data analysis and machine learning algorithms. They are not guarantees of admission or success.
• Not Professional Advice: The System does not replace professional academic counseling, career guidance, or admissions consulting.
• Subject to Change: Recommendations may change as you update your profile, grades, or preferences.

6.2 No Guarantee of Admission

EduPath-AI does not guarantee that you will be admitted to any recommended college or program. Admission decisions are made solely by the respective colleges and universities based on their own criteria and processes.

6.3 Accuracy and Reliability

While we strive to provide accurate and reliable recommendations, we cannot guarantee:

• The accuracy of program information (tuition fees, admission requirements, etc.) as these may change over time.
• The suitability of recommended programs for your specific circumstances.
• The availability of programs or seats at the time of your application.

6.4 User Responsibility

You are responsible for:

• Conducting your own research on recommended programs.
• Verifying program details directly with the colleges or universities.
• Making your own informed decisions about college applications.
• Seeking professional guidance from school counselors or career advisors.

7. Limitation of Liability

7.1 System Availability

We strive to keep the System available and operational at all times. However, we do not guarantee:

• Uninterrupted or error-free access to the System.
• That the System will be free from bugs, viruses, or technical issues.
• That data will never be lost due to technical failures (though we maintain regular backups).

7.2 Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, EduPath-AI and its developers, administrators, and staff shall not be liable for:

• Any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of the System.
• Decisions made based on the recommendations provided by the System.
• Loss of data, academic opportunities, or financial losses.
• Errors, inaccuracies, or omissions in the recommendations or program information.
• Unauthorized access to your account due to your failure to secure your password.

7.3 Academic System Context

EduPath-AI is an academic project developed for educational purposes. While we implement industry-standard security measures, users acknowledge that:

• The System is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind.
• Users assume all risks associated with using the System.
• The System is not a commercial product and may have limitations.

8. Intellectual Property Rights

8.1 System Ownership

All content, features, functionality, and intellectual property of the EduPath-AI System, including but not limited to:

• Software code, algorithms, and machine learning models
• User interface design and graphics
• Text, images, logos, and branding
• Database structure and organization

are owned by EduPath-AI and are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

8.2 Restrictions

You may not:

• Copy, modify, distribute, or reverse-engineer any part of the System.
• Use the System's name, logo, or branding without permission.
• Extract or scrape data from the System for commercial purposes.
• Create derivative works based on the System.

9. Account Termination and Suspension

9.1 Termination by User

You may terminate your account at any time by:

• Contacting us at privacy@edupathAI.edu.ph to request account deletion.
• Your data will be deleted within 30 days as described in our Data Privacy Notice.

9.2 Termination by EduPath-AI

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account immediately, without prior notice, if:

• You violate these Terms and Conditions.
• You engage in prohibited activities or misuse the System.
• Your account has been inactive for more than 3 consecutive years.
• We are required to do so by law or legal process.
• We detect fraudulent, abusive, or suspicious activity.

9.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

• Your access to the System will be immediately revoked.
• Your personal data will be deleted in accordance with our data retention policy.
• You will no longer receive recommendations or system notifications.

10. Modifications to Terms and Conditions

We reserve the right to modify, update, or revise these Terms and Conditions at any time. When we make changes:

• We will update the "Effective Date" at the top of this document.
• We will notify you via email or through a prominent notice on the System.
• Significant changes will be highlighted for your review.

Your continued use of the System after changes take effect constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree with the changes, you must stop using the System and may request account deletion.

11. Compliance with Data Privacy Act of 2012 (RA 10173)

EduPath-AI is committed to full compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173). We implement the following principles:

• Transparency: We clearly inform you about data collection and processing through our Data Privacy Notice.
• Legitimate Purpose: We collect and process data only for specified, legitimate purposes.
• Proportionality: We collect only the data necessary for our purposes (data minimization).
• Security: We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your data.
• Data Subject Rights: We respect and facilitate your rights to access, correct, delete, and port your data.
• Accountability: We maintain audit logs and documentation to demonstrate compliance.

12. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

12.1 Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, including but not limited to:

• Data Privacy Act of 2012 (RA 10173)
• Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (RA 10175)
• Consumer Act of the Philippines (RA 7394)

12.2 Dispute Resolution

In the event of any dispute arising from these Terms and Conditions or your use of the System:

• Informal Resolution: We encourage you to contact us first at privacy@edupathAI.edu.ph to resolve the issue amicably.
• Mediation: If informal resolution fails, disputes may be referred to mediation.
• Legal Action: Any legal action must be filed in the appropriate courts of Ormoc City, Leyte, Philippines.

13. Severability

If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

14. Entire Agreement

These Terms and Conditions, together with our Data Privacy Notice, constitute the entire agreement between you and EduPath-AI regarding your use of the System and supersede all prior agreements, understandings, or representations.

15. Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback regarding these Terms and Conditions, please contact us:

• Email: privacy@edupathAI.edu.ph
• Data Protection Officer: dpo@edupathAI.edu.ph
• Address: EduPath-AI, Ormoc City, Leyte, Philippines

16. Acknowledgment and Consent