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About INSEAD

Cookie Notice

Cookie Notice

This cookie notice (referred to as the “notice”) aims to provide you with information on how INSEAD uses cookies and similar technologies on its website (referred to as the “Website”).

1- Who is processing the data related to cookies and similar technologies?

INSEAD is the controller for this website. You may contact INSEAD's Data Protection Officer (DPO) via [email protected]. For any questions regarding data protection and privacy, you may contact [email protected].

2- What are cookies and how are they used?

Cookies are small pieces of information (generally small text files consisting of just letters and numbers) that are downloaded onto ‘terminal equipment’ (e.g., a computer, smartphone, game consoles, connected devices -TVs, voice assistants, vehicles, etc.) when a user accesses a website or uses a mobile application. 

Software on your devices (for example a web browser) can store cookies and send them back to a website next time you visit. This allows the website to recognise your device and store / track information about your preferences or past actions.

Cookies are used in numerous ways, such as:

  • remembering choices made by a user;
  • supporting users to log in to a website;
  • analysing traffic to a website; or
  • tracking and create profiles of users' browsing behaviour.

Cookies can be useful because they allow a website to recognise a user’s device and preferences. They are widely used in order to make websites work, or work more efficiently, as well as to provide information to the owners of the site. Without cookies, or some other similar method, websites would have no way to ‘remember’ anything about visitors, such as previous language choices made or whether they are logged in.

3- What types of cookies are there?

3.1- Depending on who manages them:

  • First-party cookies are set directly by the website the user is visiting. For example, for “insead.edu”, cookies that are set and managed by INSEAD, would generally be considered as first-party cookies.
  • Third-party cookies are set by a domain other than the one the user is visiting. This typically occurs when a website incorporates elements from other sites, such as images, social media plugins or advertising. When the browser or other software fetches these elements from the other sites, they can set cookies as well. These cookies are not managed by INSEAD, but by the third party that processes data obtained from them.

3.2- Depending on their purpose:

  • Strictly Necessary Cookies. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work.
  • Performance Cookies. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. The information these cookies collect is generally aggregated and therefore anonymous. However, there can be instances where the data processed its whole could identify you. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.
  • Functional Cookies. These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly. 
  • Targeting Cookies. These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising and content partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant ads or content on other sites. They are generally based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising and content.
  • Social Media Cookies. These cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.

3.3- Depending on the period for which they are stored:

Cookies that expire at the end of a browser session (normally when a user exits their browser) are called ‘session cookies’. Cookies that can be stored for longer are called ‘persistent cookies’.

  • Session cookies allow websites to recognise and link the actions of a user during a “browsing session” (until the user closes its browser). They may be used for a variety of purposes such as remembering a setting chosen by a user as they browse around a site. These cookies can also be used for security purposes, such as when a user logs in to an account. These session cookies expire after a session ends, so information would not be stored beyond this period.
  • Persistent cookies are stored on a user’s device across different browsing sessions. They can allow the preferences or actions of the user across a site (or across different websites) to be remembered. A user can also delete previously set persistent cookies manually or configure the browser settings to delete cookies at a set interval. Persistent cookies may be used for a variety of purposes including remembering users’ preferences and choices when using a site beyond a browsing session or to target advertising.

4- How are cookies used on the website?

You may find more information on cookies and how they are used on our website by accessing our cookies banner (or the minimized “cookie” icon you may find in the bottom left corner of our website) and clicking on 'Cookies settings'.

5- How can you accept, refuse, or configure cookies?

You can use our cookies banner to manage your cookie preferences:

  • By clicking “Accept all cookies”, you accept and give your consent for INSEAD to use all cookies on our site which require your consent. 
  • By clicking “Cookie settings”, may find more information on cookies, how to contact INSEAD, and choose which cookies you decide to accept or reject.
  • By clicking “Reject non-essential", you can reject the use of cookies requiring your consent.

For clarity and according to applicable law, cookies whose sole purpose is to enable or facilitate communication by electronic means or which are strictly necessary for the provision of an online communication service at your express request, will not require your prior consent and will not be affected by your choice to accept or reject cookies.

For those cookies that do require your prior consent and where you have previously provided it, kindly be informed of your right to withdraw such consent at any time. You may do so by interacting with the cookies banner (which you can access by clicking on the minimised “cookie” icon you may find in the bottom left corner of our website).

Kindly be informed that withdrawing your consent will not affect the lawfulness of processing based on your consent prior to its withdrawal.

Alternatively, most web browsers allow some control of most cookies through the browser settings. To find out more about cookies, including how to see what cookies have been set, visit www.aboutcookies.org or www.allaboutcookies.org.

Find out how to manage cookies on popular browsers:

To find information related to other browsers, please refer to the browser developer’s website.

6- Updates to this notice

We may update this notice to accurately reflect any changes. We recommend that you check this page regularly to stay informed of any changes to this notice.