Data Protection Notice for Scientific Research – 11 August 2025
Why Did I Drop Out? – A Survey on Higher Education Students’ Experiences Of course Withdrawal
One-time study
Study duration: October 2025 – December 2030
Purpose of the study:
The aim of this study is to investigate the reasons behind course withdrawals and to identify factors that could support learning and the completion of studies. The results will be used to improve course design. Additionally, we aim to understand what kinds of materials support learning and which factors may hinder it. The survey will be distributed to higher education students. Personal data collected in the study will be retained until the research publications have been completed and for one year after the final publication, until the end of 2030. After this, the data will be stored in anonymized form.
Data Controller
The research is conducted under an employment relationship with the Tampere University Foundation operating as Tampere University, which acts as the data controller.
Tampere University Foundation sr
33014 Tampere University
Kalevantie 4, 33100 Tampere
Business ID: 2844561-8
Data Protection Officer Contact:
dpo@tuni.fi
Responsible Research Lead
The responsible research lead is the person appointed by the data controller who oversees the implementation of the study. A research group may also be designated as the responsible party.
TACCU, Tampere Accessibility Unit, Tampere University
Kalevantie 4, 33100 Tampere
Tel. 0294 5211
Researchers Conducting the Study:
Pauliina Baltzar (TAU), Mirkka Forssell (TAU), Tero Avellan (TAU)
Content of the Research Register:
The study aims to explore the reasons for course withdrawals and use the findings to improve course design and reduce dropouts. We also seek to understand what supports or hinders learning.
Sources of Personal Data:
The data is collected directly from participants via a survey. Participants will provide the following information: age, gender, degree level, institution, field of study, number of courses dropped, types of courses dropped and reasons for dropping them, factors that support learning, preferred study methods, and what studying means to them. Data will be collected during 2025–2026.
Purpose of Processing Personal Data:
The purpose of processing personal data is scientific research.
Legal Basis for Processing Personal Data:
EU General Data Protection Regulation, Article 6(1), and Finnish Data Protection Act, Section 4:
☒ Task carried out in the public interest / exercise of official authority
☒ Scientific or historical research or statistical purposes
Does the study involve processing of data on criminal convictions or offences?
☒ No
☐ Yes
Principles of Register Protection – Digital Data Protection:
☒ User ID
☒ Password
☒ Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
☒ Access control via IP addresses
☐ Usage logging (log data collection)
☐ Physical access control
☐ Other, specify:
Processing of Direct Identifiers:
☐ Direct identifiers are removed before analysis
☒ Data is pseudonymized
☐ Data is analyzed with direct identifiers (justification required): [Click or tap here to enter text.]
Processing of Personal Data After Study Completion:
☒ Research register will be deleted: Collected research data
☒ Research register will be archived on researchers’ computers in anonymized form without identifiers: Age and gender. Retained until the end of 2030, one year after the final publication.
☐ Research register will be archived with identifiers
Rights of the Data Subject and Possible Restrictions:
Unless otherwise provided by data protection legislation, the data subject has the following rights:
- Right of access to data
- Right to rectification
- Right to erasure (”right to be forgotten”)
- Right to restriction of processing
- Right to object
- Right to data portability
- Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority
Contact Information for Supervisory Authority:
Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman
Visiting address: Ratapihantie 9, 6th floor, 00520 Helsinki
Postal address: P.O. Box 800, 00521 Helsinki
Switchboard: +358 (0)29 566 6700
Fax: +358 (0)29 566 6735
Email: tietosuoja@om.fi
Requests to exercise data subject rights must follow the data controller’s data request process.