Cookie Policy

Last Updated: July 2026

This Cookie Policy explains how the Australia-Africa Universities Network (AAUN) uses cookies and similar tracking technologies when you visit our network platform (aaun.network) and its subdomains.

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, improve user experience, and provide analytical information to the site owners.

2. How We Use Cookies

As an academic and research network, AAUN does not use cookies for behavioral commercial advertising or cross-site commercial tracking. We use cookies primarily for:

• Essential Functionality: Keeping you logged into secure portal areas (such as member portals or grant submission forms).
• Analytics and Performance: Understanding how visitors navigate our site so we can improve research portal layouts and event updates.
• Preferences: Remembering choices you make, such as language preferences or form inputs.

3. Types of Cookies Implemented

We utilize the following categories of cookies on our network platform:

Cookie Type	Purpose	Expiry
Strictly Necessary	Essential for user authentication, grant application portals, and security features.	Session (Deleted upon closing browser)
Performance & Analytics	Uses anonymized data (via services like Google Analytics) to track page visits, grant guideline downloads, and regional traffic.	Persistent (Up to 2 years)
Functional Cookies	Remembers regional portal preferences (e.g., AAUN Australia vs. AAUN Africa preferences).	Persistent (Up to 1 year)

4. Third-Party Integrations

Some pages on our network may include embedded content from third-party platforms (such as YouTube videos of forums, Google Forms, or institutional repositories). These third-party services may set their own cookies outside of AAUN’s direct control.

5. Managing Your Cookie Settings

You have the right to decide whether to accept or reject cookies.

• Browser Controls: You can set or change your web browser controls to accept or refuse cookies. If you choose to reject strictly necessary cookies, you may still use our website, though access to some secure member areas (like the Partnership & Research Development Fund application portal) may be limited.
• Universal Opt-Out: You can activate Global Privacy Control (GPC) or similar privacy settings in your browser to automatically signal your tracking preferences.

6. Policy Governance

Because our member institutions span across both Australia and various African nations, this policy is designed to align broadly with privacy frameworks including the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), and general international data protection principles.