Privacy Policy

Effective Date: October 8, 2025

Academy of Retail Excellence ("AORE," "we," "us," or "our"), founded by Dr. Ankit Kumar and Shweta Sharma, is committed to protecting the privacy and security of personal information collected from students, visitors, and users of our website and educational services. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, with whom we share it, and the rights users have regarding their personal data.

Information Provided Directly:

When registering or enrolling in AORE programs, we collect personal identification information including name, date of birth, gender, and photograph; contact information including email address, phone number, and mailing address; educational background including qualifications, previous education, and academic records; employment information including current employer, work experience, and career goals; payment information including billing details, transaction records, and bank account information for refunds; and demographic information including location, language preferences, and accessibility needs.

Information Collected Automatically:

Through website usage, we collect technical information including IP addresses, browser type and version, device information, operating system, pages visited, time spent on pages, click patterns, referral sources, and date/time stamps through cookies and similar tracking technologies.

Personal information is collected and used to provide educational services across retail management, beauty & wellness, supply chain, and other programs; process enrollments, payments, and issue receipts; communicate course updates, schedules, and administrative information; provide career counseling, guidance, and personalized learning support; facilitate job assistance and placement services with retail companies; issue national and international accreditations and certificates; respond to inquiries and provide customer support; improve course content, curriculum design, and website functionality; analyze learning outcomes and program effectiveness; send promotional materials about new courses, events, and services (with consent); maintain student records for accreditation and verification purposes; and comply with legal obligations and regulatory requirements.

We process personal data based on contractual necessity to fulfill educational services and provide job assistance; legitimate interests in operating our educational mission, improving programs, and supporting the retail industry; legal compliance with Indian laws including the Information Technology Act, 2000, and educational regulations; and consent for optional marketing communications, testimonials, and promotional activities.

AORE does not sell, rent, or trade personal information to third parties for marketing purposes. We may share information with service providers who assist with payment processing, email communications, website hosting, learning management systems, and data analytics under strict confidentiality agreements; retail companies and employers as part of job assistance services and placement support (with student consent); accreditation bodies and certification authorities for program validation and certificate issuance; educational partners and industry collaborators for program development and guest lectures; legal authorities when required to comply with legal obligations, court orders, or government regulations; professional advisors including legal counsel, auditors, and consultants bound by confidentiality; and business successors in connection with a merger, acquisition, or transfer of assets.

AORE implements comprehensive security measures including encryption of sensitive data during transmission and storage, secure servers with firewall protection, access controls limiting employee access to personal information on a need-to-know basis, regular security audits and vulnerability assessments, backup systems to prevent data loss, and staff training on data protection and privacy practices. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to provide educational services, maintain student relationships, comply with legal and regulatory obligations, resolve disputes and enforce agreements, and fulfill accreditation requirements. Student academic records, course completion data, and certificates are retained for a minimum of 10 years for verification, alumni services, and regulatory compliance. Users may request deletion of their personal data subject to legal retention requirements and legitimate business needs.

Users have the right to access their personal information held by AORE; request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete data; request deletion of personal data (subject to legal and contractual requirements); object to or restrict certain processing activities; withdraw consent for marketing communications at any time; receive a copy of their data in a portable format; lodge complaints with data protection authorities; and request information about how their data has been used. To exercise these rights, users may contact AORE through the contact details provided on the website.

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance user experience and remember preferences, maintain login sessions, analyze website traffic and user behavior, improve navigation and functionality, deliver relevant content and advertisements, and measure marketing campaign effectiveness. Users can control cookie preferences through browser settings, though disabling cookies may affect website functionality and limit access to certain features.

AORE's website may contain links to third-party websites, social media platforms, and external services including retail company websites for job opportunities. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites and encourage users to review their privacy policies before providing personal information.

AORE maintains strict confidentiality of student academic records, assessment results, counseling information, and placement activities. Student information will not be shared with third parties except as outlined in this policy or with explicit student consent. Faculty and staff are bound by confidentiality obligations regarding student information.

With consent, AORE may send promotional emails, SMS, and WhatsApp messages about new courses, program updates, industry insights, career opportunities, events and webinars, and special offers. Students can opt out of marketing communications at any time by clicking unsubscribe links, contacting AORE directly, or updating preferences in their student portal.

AORE's programs are designed for individuals aged 18 and above or those who have completed secondary education. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors under 18 without parental or guardian consent. If we become aware of such a collection, we will take steps to delete the information.

Personal information may be transferred to and processed in locations outside of India in connection with international accreditations, global job placements, or cloud service providers. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect transferred data in accordance with Indian data protection laws and international standards.

Upon course completion, students may become part of AORE's alumni network. We may retain contact information to provide alumni services, continuing education opportunities, networking events, and career advancement support. Alumni can opt out of these communications at any time.

AORE reserves the right to update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in practices, legal requirements, or service offerings. Changes will be posted on the website with an updated effective date, and significant changes will be communicated via email to enrolled students. Continued use of services after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

For questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy, personal data handling, or to exercise privacy rights, please contact Academy of Retail Excellence through the contact information provided at aoreindia.com. AORE is committed to addressing privacy concerns promptly and will respond to inquiries within 7-10 business days.