INESC TEC supports the University of Porto through data protection training

INESC TEC addressed the University of Porto’s invitation and joined a set of data protection training initiatives, within the scope of the SAMA project. Through the Data Protection Office, INESC TEC designed an online training tool and promoted training actions aimed at the University’s employees, addressing issues like the connection between ethics and data protection law, and the practical observation of data protection principles within the framework of R&D activities.

The SAMA project, which took place over several years at the University of Porto, aimed at training the organisation in terms of data protection, contributing to the implementation of European and national legislation related to this matter. In this sense, INESC TEC was invited to promote the training and awareness dimensions of employees, namely through the design of an online course that U.Porto provides to its community, and the participation in a series of workshops.

“Since personal data protection is part of virtually all levels of an organisation’s operation, the objective of ensuring legal compliance inevitably involves providing it with adequate and especially inclusive training solutions, focusing on the employees who are daily involved in data processing operations”, explained Vasco Rosa Dias; he also mentioned that, in an ecosystem like the University of Porto, these can range from teaching and scientific research to the operation of the most diverse services and departments. “In fact, any employee will be directly and daily involved in operations that determine personal data processing”.

According to INESC TEC’s Data Protection Officer, the experience acquired by the Institute over the last few years has proved to be of great relevance for “the development and implementation of a set of training initiatives and solutions designed towards the particular needs of an entity that is part of the national scientific system”.

Vasco Rosa Dias also highlighted the creation of an adapted version of INESC TEC’s online and asynchronous data protection course, available to all University employees. “The course focuses on a wide range of resources, guidelines and surveys on the main topics that employees will face on a daily basis, also allowing – through its own section – to provide relevant information about procedures that are adopted internally. In our opinion, it’s possible to integrate this tool into other processes, e.g., the welcoming of new employees”.

Moreover, the Data Protection Officer stated that, through a theoretical-practical approach, the workshops also addressed topics like the connection between ethics and data protection law, and the practical observation of data protection principles, by design and by default – with focus on research and development activities.

“INESC TEC kindly accepted the invitation by the University of Porto: not only for the recognition it represents in terms of initiatives and efforts we’ve carried out in recent years but, above all, for the opportunity to share our experience and place it at the service of U.Porto, a major entity with a relevant social role. All of this within the scope of a very praiseworthy project with a remarkable potential impact”, concluded Vasco Rosa Dias, also emphasising that “personal data protection requires a transformation of a cultural scope in the organisations, which depends largely on awareness and training efforts”.