Welcome to GeoConnect’s GeoSpatial Academy. By accessing and using this platform, you agree to comply with the terms and conditions outlined in this Legal Notice. Please read them carefully before engaging with our services.

1. Ownership and Operation

The GeoSpatial Academy is owned and operated by GeoConnect, a non-profit organization. Technical support and funding for the platform are provided by KM-Spatial, a major partner of GeoConnect. The Academy also welcomes future collaborations with additional partners.

2. Jurisdiction and Governing Law

This platform is governed by the laws of Zimbabwe. Any disputes or legal matters arising from the use of this platform will be resolved in accordance with Zimbabwean law.

3. Terms of Use

3.1 Eligibility

The platform is open to individuals aged 13 and above.

3.2 Community Conduct

Users must:

• Use appropriate language at all times 
• treat others with fairness and respect within the community

Accounts may be suspended or terminated by administrators for violations of these terms, including misconduct or misuse.

4. Intellectual Property

Some course materials are proprietary to GeoConnect, while others belong to third-party contributors. Users will be informed of specific usage rights for each course, which may include the right to use and reproduce certain materials.

5. Privacy and Data Protection5.1 Data Collection

Mandatory information collected includes:

• Names
  
• Email addresses
  
• Usernames
  
• Gender
  

Optional information includes:

• Date of Birth
• Location
• Other personal details

5.2 Compliance

GeoConnect complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act of Zimbabwe. Personal data will not be shared with third parties.

6. Payments and Refunds6.1 Payment Processing

Payments for courses are handled by PayNow and PayPal, which accept credit cards. Manual payment methods are available and managed by KM-Spatial.

6.2 Refund Policy

Refunds are offered within 30 days of course purchase.

7. Limitation of Liability

GeoConnect provides course content to the best of its knowledge and experience. We do not guarantee specific learning outcomes. Users are responsible for the practical application of the skills learned.

8. Course Access and Revocation

• Most courses offer lifetime access, while others are time-limited MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses).
  
• Access may be revoked for violations of the community code of conduct.
  

9. Dispute Resolution

All disputes will be resolved in accordance with Zimbabwean law.

10. Tax Compliance

VAT will be charged for courses as required, depending on the user’s location, to ensure compliance with applicable tax regulations.