1. Acceptance of these terms
These Terms of Use govern your access to and use of the website, online learning platform, courses, events and related services (together, the "Services") provided by the Global Institute of Planning and Sustainable Development ("the Institute", "we", "us"). By creating an account, enrolling in a course, registering for an event, making a donation or otherwise using the Services, you agree to these terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the Services.
2. About the Institute
The Institute is a registered non-profit organisation with its head office at 19624 Governor's Highway, Suite 123, Flossmoor, Illinois 60422, USA, and regional offices in Nigeria, Zambia and Senegal. We provide education, professional development and conferences in planning, enterprise and sustainable development.
3. Your account
- You must provide accurate, current information when you register and keep it up to date.
- You are responsible for keeping your password confidential and for all activity under your account. Tell us immediately if you suspect unauthorised use.
- Accounts are personal and may not be shared or transferred.
- If you are under 18, you may use the Services only with the involvement of a parent or guardian.
4. Courses, assessments and certificates
- Course content, schedules, instructors and delivery modes are described on each course page and may be updated to keep programmes current.
- Certificates are issued only when you meet the completion requirements of a course, including any assessments.
- Work you submit for assessment must be your own. Plagiarism, impersonation or other academic misconduct may result in a failed assessment, withdrawal of a certificate or suspension of your account.
- Access to course materials is for your personal, non-commercial learning.
5. Fees, payments and installments
- Fees are shown in the currency stated at checkout. You agree to pay all fees for the courses, events and services you select.
- Online payments are processed by third-party providers such as Stripe, Paystack and Flutterwave. Your card details are handled by those providers and are not stored by the Institute.
- Where an installment plan is offered, the schedule and conditions shown at enrolment apply. Continued access may depend on payments being made as agreed.
- Refund eligibility is set out in the course or event details at the time of purchase. Where none is stated, please contact us and your request will be reviewed individually.
6. Conferences and events
- Event registrations are confirmed once full payment has been received and verified.
- Package inclusions, such as accommodation, meals and transport, are as described on the event page. Unless stated otherwise, flights, visas, travel insurance and personal expenses are your responsibility.
- You are responsible for holding valid travel documents and meeting the entry requirements of the host country. Invitation letters are provided to support, but cannot guarantee, a visa application.
- Programmes, speakers and venues may change. Where an event is cancelled by the Institute, we will contact registered delegates about the options available.
7. Donations
Donations are voluntary gifts to support the Institute's charitable and educational work and are generally non-refundable. If you believe a donation was made in error, please contact us within 30 days. Gifts directed to a particular purpose are applied to that purpose; where this becomes impractical, they are applied to the Institute's closest related priority.
8. Acceptable use
You agree not to:
- use the Services for any unlawful, fraudulent or harmful purpose;
- attempt to gain unauthorised access to the Services, other accounts or our systems, or interfere with their operation;
- upload or share content that is offensive, defamatory, infringing or contains malware;
- copy, resell or redistribute course materials without our written permission;
- harass or abuse instructors, staff or other learners.
9. Intellectual property
The Services and their content — including course materials, text, images, logos, videos and software — are owned by or licensed to the Institute and are protected by intellectual property laws. You may view and download content for your personal learning only. The Institute's name and logo may not be used without our prior written consent.
10. Content you provide
You keep ownership of content you submit, such as assessment answers, messages and photos. You grant the Institute a non-exclusive licence to use that content to deliver and improve the Services, to assess your work and, for photos or testimonials you choose to share with us, to feature them in our communications.
11. Third-party services and links
The Services link to and rely on third parties, including payment providers, Google sign-in and messaging services such as WhatsApp. Their own terms and privacy policies apply, and the Institute is not responsible for their content or practices.
12. Disclaimers
We work to keep the Services accurate, available and secure, but they are provided "as is" and "as available". We do not guarantee uninterrupted access or that course completion will lead to any particular employment, licensing, immigration or business outcome. Information on the website is for general guidance and is not professional, legal or financial advice.
13. Limitation of liability
To the extent permitted by law, the Institute is not liable for indirect, incidental or consequential losses arising from your use of the Services. Our total liability for any claim relating to the Services is limited to the amount you paid to the Institute for the specific service concerned. Nothing in these terms limits liability that cannot be limited by law.
14. Suspension and termination
We may suspend or close an account that breaches these terms or puts other users or the Services at risk. You may close your account at any time by contacting us. Sections that by their nature should continue — including intellectual property, payments owed, disclaimers and limitation of liability — survive termination.
15. Changes to these terms
We may update these terms from time to time. The date at the top of this page shows when they were last changed. Continued use of the Services after an update means you accept the revised terms.
16. Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Illinois, United States, without regard to its conflict-of-law rules, unless the law of your country of residence requires otherwise.
17. Contact us
Questions about these terms can be sent to support@globalinstitutepsd.org, by phone on +1-312-217-0967, or through our Contact Us page.