Data protection

The responsible handling of personal data is of the utmost importance to the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research. Personal data is therefore processed only in accordance with the provisions of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Austrian law. All employees are trained in data protection law and process data responsibly within the legal framework. In addition, we have taken technical and organisational measures to ensure that rules on data protection are adhered to by both ourselves and third-party service providers. Ultimately, we would like you to know when we collect data, what data we collect and how we use it. In the following paragraphs, we would like to tell you about important principles and processes of data protection law at the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research:

Processing personal data

As a public institution, the Federal Ministry acts in accordance with the legality principle of administrative law, i.e. administrative activity is based on Austrian and European law. This means that the standards applicable to the processing of personal data are generally the relevant legal basis (Articles 6 and 9 of the GDPR). In specific individual cases, however, a contract or other legal obligation may also be considered. If you have given consent for your data to be processed, this forms the basis and at the same time the limit.

Fundamentally, the length of time for which data is stored also depends on the particular legal basis in the individual case (legal requirements, terms of the contract or similar).

Likewise, the purpose for which personal data is processed is determined by the Austrian and European legal basis and is based on the statutory duties of the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research. The basis for this is the Federal Ministries Act (Bundesministeriengesetz) as amended.

As a rule, the Central Office of the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research does not transmit personal data to third countries or use automated decision-making processes. Any exceptions are made on a legal or special contractual basis.

Right of access (Article 15 GDPR)

You have the right to obtain information about the processing of your personal data. We would like to point out that in order to process requests for information, the identity of the applicant must be verified. As a rule, this can be done using a mobile phone signature/Citizen Card (Bürgerkarte) or by sending a copy of your passport or identity card. To enable us to supply you with the information you require as quickly as possible, please provide specific details of your identity and request. You can also ask for individual items of information or processing procedures. Please state as precisely as possible what information you require.
The Central Office of the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research can only provide information about data that it processes as the data protection controller. If you have any questions about data processed at universities, schools, Boards of Education or any other independent agencies, please contact the particular institution.

The Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research will answer your request for information under Article 15 of the GDPR as quickly as possible and within one month of receipt. If your application is complex and if you have made a number of applications, the deadline may be extended by another two months. We will inform you if this is the case. To ensure that your personal data is only made available to you, the information will generally only be delivered to you by RSa letter (registered letter with return receipt).

Please send your request for information to datenschutz@bmbwf.gv.at

Other data subject rights (Article 16 et seq. GDPR)

To assert any other data subject rights under the GDPR, e.g. if you would like to have data corrected or deleted at the Central Office of the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research, please contact datenschutz@bmbwf.gv.at

Please note that these rights may be restricted in individual cases in accordance with the applicable legal situation.

Making a complaint

If you believe that your data protection rights have been violated by data processing at the Central Office of the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research, please contact datenschutz@bmbwf.gv.at. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the data protection supervisory authority. In Austria, this is the Austrian Data Protection Authority.

Controller and data protection officers

The controller responsible for processing personal data at the Central Office of the Federal Ministry under the GDPR is the Federal Minister for Education, Science and Research.

Contact details

Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research
Minoritenplatz 5
1010 Vienna
Austria
T +43 1 53120 0
F +43 1 53120 3099

The data protection officers at the Central Office of the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research are:

• Thomas Menzel (education)
• Andreas Berger (science and research).
  You can contact them at datenschutz@bmbwf.gv.at 

Data protection officers at the Boards of Education

You can find contact addresses for all Austrian schools in the school directory (in German only)

Data protection in schools (in German only)
 
Tips
 
Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research, Minoritenplatz 5, A-1010 Vienna, Austria, T +43 1 53120 0, ministerium@bmbwf.at