Institute Hosts the 5th Meeting of Higher Education Institution Data Officers

From Wednesday (16) through Friday (18), IMPA will host the Thursdays Meeting of Personal Data Officers from Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Organized by RNP (National Education and Research Network), the event brings together data officers, information technology and information security professionals, administrators, and representatives from educational, research, and innovation institutions to discuss challenges related to personal data protection and data governance.

At the opening of the meeting on Wednesday (16), IMPA Director-General Marcelo Viana highlighted the sheer volume of information handled by the Institute, especially in activities involving children and young people. “We’re talking about a very large amount of data. This is because among our activities is the organization of OBMEP (Brazilian Public School Mathematics Olympiad), which reaches 23.5 million children and young people across the entire country. So, data here at IMPA—including personal data and even data on minors—is handled with the utmost seriousness,” he stated.

Viana also noted that IMPA has had personal data officers since 2018. According to him, the Institute has finalized the regulations required by law and mapped its data flows.

Speaking on behalf of RNP’s executive board, Eduardo Grizendi emphasized the relationship between data protection and cybersecurity. “We, in our Engineering and Operations Division—which includes the Deputy Division of Cybersecurity—view privacy and data protection as crucial,” he said. He also noted that RNP’s service portfolio addresses privacy and data protection issues in collaboration with user institutions.

The program also featured Iagê Miola, director of the National Data Protection Authority (ANPD). In discussing the purpose of the meeting, Miola highlighted the importance of the practical experience of data protection officers, the production and dissemination of knowledge, and collaboration among universities, federal institutes, the ANPD, and other institutions. He also drew attention to the challenges posed by new technologies and artificial intelligence, which require balancing innovation, data protection, and information security.

On behalf of the Ministry of Education (MEC), Evânio Araújo, Secretary of Information Management, Innovation, and Educational Policy Evaluation, discussed the creation of a national education data infrastructure and the challenges of integrating and sharing information while ensuring security and privacy. In his view, the meeting also helps to broaden the participation of those responsible for data governance.

“I think what we’ve been building through this network, through this event, is the ability to bring data stewards into this data governance process as active participants—as key figures who help us truly reflect, in a mature way, on how to ensure access to data at the appropriate level of detail for the individual and for a purpose that is justifiable and reasonable,” said Araújo.

RNP Press Release

According to the secretary, the national education data infrastructure involves not only standards and guidelines, but also technological solutions capable of meeting the needs of institutions of higher education. The proposal, he said, relates to the use of data for artificial intelligence, the improvement of public policies, and services aimed at students.

Sharing Experiences

In addition to institutional discussions, the conference features presentations of academic papers and case studies on privacy and personal data protection. Six papers were selected, covering topics such as a culture of privacy, the sharing of personal data, the enforcement of legislation, and the alignment of processes.

The program also included workshops on governance in artificial intelligence and the drafting of documents related to privacy and information security. The Thursdays Meeting of Personal Data Officers from Higher Education Institutions aims to expand the exchange of experiences among professionals working in the field and to strengthen the collective development of data governance and protection practices at higher education institutions.