Mapping Multiculture research project privacy notice

Information you need to know

The School of Geography, Geology and the Environment is part of the University of Leicester. Further information on the institution can be found on our website.

The University of Leicester is the Data Controller for your information. The Data Protection Officer is: Parmjit Gill, who can be contacted at: Tel: 0116 229 7945. Email: dpo@leicester.ac.uk.

This Privacy Notice provides information about how the University of Leicester collects and uses your personal information.

What is ‘personal information’?

‘Personal information’ means any information which relates to or identifies you as an individual.

What information are we collecting or using?

Information on how you experience Leicester. As part of this, we will be collecting the following personal information:

• Contact information: Your name and your email address, only if you choose to participate in the second interview
• Research contributions: any personal data collected from interviews with you

We may also collect special category data (for e.g. ethnicity and religious or philosophical beliefs) - where you chose to share this during recorded conversations. These recordings will be anonymised.

Why are we processing your data?

We are collecting your data so that we can carry out research and gain a better idea of how young people experience Leicester as a diverse, multicultural City. We are also interested in how social media affects where young people go, avoid and their experiences of Leicester. The end point of our research is innovative geovisualisation and mapping of Leicester. Through participation in the project you will be given the opportunity to experience Geographic Information Science in action, talk about experiences of Leicester, gain a greater understanding of the process of research and have opportunities to see the mapping taking shape at the University of Leicester.

How will we use this data?

We will analyse all of the data that we gather in the research so that we can show that visually in map form. Our mapping will be based on young people’s experiences of the city and the analysis of big, aggregated data available on social media platforms. The end point of our research is innovative geovisualisation and mapping of Leicester.

What is our legal basis for using your data?

The legal basis for the processing of participant information that we are collecting and using for the study is that it is ‘necessary for the performance of a task in the public interest (Public Task)’ as set out in the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR Article 6.1.(e). Research is a task that is performed in the public interest.

Our additional conditions for processing special category information are:

• That the data subject has given explicit consent to the processing of the data, as set out in the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR Article 9.2.(a).

Who will my personal information be shared with?

We will be using third party transcribers to transcribe the recordings of your interview. Before we send the recordings for transcription we will be anonymising your recording by using a pseudonym so that your identity is protected. Appropriate confidentiality agreements are in place for the security of your data.

Where did the University of Leicester source my data from?

We will collect your information directly from you - through face to face interviews, virtual reality headset recordings, and in the 2nd interview through your WhatsApp responses to questions.

How long will the University of Leicester keep my data?

We will retain your data only for as long as we need it to meet our purposes, including any relating to legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. Original recordings, VR journeys and WhatsApp responses will be kept for 10 years from the end of the project (currently anticipated to be October 1st 2031).

What rights do I have regarding my data?

You have the right to access, correct, or delete your personal data, to object to or restrict how it is used, to request its transfer to another organisation, and to avoid decisions made solely by automated processes.

Some of the above rights are not absolute. If you want to exercise any of the rights described above, please contact the University’s Information Assurance Team.

We will do our best to respond quickly and within the timeframes set out by data protection law. To help us handle your request and improve our services, we may keep a record of our communications with you.

Complaints to the University

If you are dissatisfied with the way the University have used your information, you should complain to the University’s Information Assurance Team.

Complaints to the ICO

If you are not satisfied with the way the University has handled your complaint, you also have the right to raise your concerns with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). The ICO is an independent authority which oversees how personal data is used. Guidance on how to contact the ICO can be found at www.ico.org.uk.

Changes to this privacy notice

This privacy notice was published in November 2025. We may change this privacy notice from time to time and will communicate these changes directly to you where appropriate. If you have any questions about this privacy notice or if you would like to access any of your rights, please contact Information Assurance Services: ias@leicester.ac.uk .