TERMS and  CONDITIONS

Introduction

These terms of use relate to the Open And Distance ELearning (ODeL) platform and processes to deliver ODeL Services.  If you use ODeL Services (a “User”) this policy applies to you and you are bound by it.  If you disagree you must stop using ODeL Services and close your User account.

Our commitment to each other

Thinkbig Technologies delivers online learning trading as “ODeL”, and is in Lusaka, Zambia.  ODeL provides free learning on a global scale for all Users, commercially made possible through online advertising and other optional paid services such as the purchase of Certificates of completion (together “Certificates”) for diploma and Certificate courses. To operate successfully ODeL Services as defined below are subject to the “terms of use” outlined herein. You, the User, consent to these terms by continuing to use the ODeL Services or by clicking on the content tickbox on registration. Stop using the services if you do not agree with these terms. ODeL reserves the right without notice to block or deactivate any User account that breaches these terms of use.

The detailed terms of use follow:

1. The User is granted a temporary, non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to access and view learning-related content on the “ODeL platform” (including but not limited to the online APIs, internet websites, android/iOS mobile apps, and electronic content related to learning, careers, personal profiles and jobs) solely for non-commercial educational purposes for your own personal use (the “ODeL Services”). All other uses are prohibited without the express written agreement of ODeL. The User is not allowed:

1.1. To copy, transfer, rebrand, sub-licence, reverse engineer, modify, repackage, sell or deliver ODeL course material and content via any other third party Learning Management Systems or alternative online platforms.

1.2. To create and offer competing or derivative products and services to other third parties based on the ODeL courses and content.

1.3. To transmit any data with embedded viruses, trojan horses, worms, time-bombs, keystroke loggers, spyware, adware or any other harmful programs or similar computer code designed to hurt the operation of any computer software or hardware.

2. The ODeL Services include course content provided as without further warranty or guarantee as to its completeness or accuracy.

2.1. The learning material is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon. The User acknowledges that they use this learning content at their own risk.

2.2. The User acknowledges that ODeL and affiliates including publishers of the learning material expressly exclude, to the extent permitted by law, any:

2.2.1. warranties or assurances implied by statute, common law or law of equity on the delivery of the ODeL Services;

2.2.2. liability for loss or damage, whether direct, indirect, consequential, or otherwise that results from using and reliance upon the ODeL Services, or failure to use the ODeL Services due to software bugs or loss of service.

3. To provide free Services ODeL collects data to uniquely identify each registered User and provide online advertising through globally recognised third parties in keeping with different global data privacy regulations.

3.1. ODeL Privacy and Data Protection Policy is publicly available on the ODeL website and gives complete details on how ODeL meets its obligations to registered learners.

3.1.1. You as the User agree to be bound by the Privacy and Data Protection Policy.

3.1.2. Individual User learner records will remain on the ODeL platform unless the User explicitly closes their ODeL account and requests your personal account data to be deleted.

3.2. ODeL has a duty of care to its Users and learners to protect their personal information and learner records.  This duty of care extends to the User to safeguard access credentials for the ODeL platform.

3.2.1. Access to the ODeL platform is strictly controlled and ODeL shall ensure that security measures shall be no less rigorous than accepted industry practices regarding Data Security.

3.2.2. If the User discovers a suspected security breach on their account the User must change their password immediately and contact ODeL Customer Support immediately to facilitate investigation and minimise the impact of any breach.

4. ODeL offers optional paid-for services including non-transferable Certificates as individual proof of study (both for Certificate courses and diploma courses), other merchandise as well as a monthly renewable Premium service that excludes advertising.

4.1. The Premium ad-free subscription will be enabled for a specific term as defined in the shopping basket depending on the option chosen by the User, typically for one month, one year, or a perpetual term that does not end. The ad-free experience will be provided on the User account immediately upon payment validation of the relevant fee.

4.1.1. The monthly and yearly subscription shall renew automatically at the end of each term unless cancelled.

4.1.2. The subscription disables all advertising from the ODeL platform and may include additional bonus features occasionally, including a discount voucher on purchases (equal to 10% discount) of Certificates or merchandise. Discount vouchers do not expire and will last beyond the termination of the Premium subscription at ODeL discretion.  One discount voucher code will be issued to the User account each month.  Unspent monthly discount vouchers can be accumulated. No more than 5 vouchers representing a 50% reduction can be applied to a single product purchase. Users can also spread accumulated monthly discounts across multiple products (e.g. 10% off each of 5 products) on the same purchase event. Bonus features are subject to change without notice.

4.1.3. The User can cancel at any time through their User account.

4.1.4. The recurring fees will be subject to foreign exchange rate variation. ODeL reserves the right to change the subscription fee occasionally and to vary fees across different jurisdictions. Any changes to a User’s subscription fee will be communicated at least 30 days before a renewal.

4.2. Purchased Certificates can be in multiple formats including digital pdf sent electronically, physical paper parchment sent by post (with an option to have the parchment set in a black wooden picture frame). Each Certificate purchase includes an Academic Transcript. This is a more detailed summary of the course you have completed on ODeL and contains your personal details, the final score you achieved, a course description and the Module names you have completed within the course. It also contains an authentication link you can share to validate your achievement.

4.2.1. Digital Certificates can be downloaded directly from the User account dashboard after payment is finalised.

4.2.2. Parchment is printed on special paper containing security features such as embossed fibers, a 'genuine' metallic strip, the User’s details, and an ODeL stamp.

4.2.3. The design, look and feel of the Certificates is subject to change occasionally, and is available to preview in the ODeL Shop before and during the purchase process. Once a User makes a purchase you accept the Certificate as is.

4.3. Only Standard shipping is available in the shopping cart for your physical purchases and the delivery time will depend on where in the world the User’s delivery address is. Please allow up to 28 days for Standard shipping as this goes via national postal services.

4.4. User product returns and refund requests should be made to the ODeL Customer Service team via email. The team will respond by email and will confirm any successful requests. ODeL reserves the right to refuse a refund if not satisfied with the circumstances of the request.

4.4.1. Any digital Certificates not downloaded from the ODeL platform can be cancelled and a refund will be provided. If the platform shows that the digital Certificate has been downloaded then no refund will be possible. If you have problems downloading digital Certificates please get in touch with the Customer Support team.

4.4.2. If a physical product has not yet been printed and shipped it will be cancelled and ODeL will make a full refund. If a physical product has shipped then the User must return the product(s) and then ODeL will make a partial refund minus the original shipping fee incurred. If the User produces evidence to show that a product has been lost and undelivered within the expected maximum timeframe, ODeL reserves the right to either resend the product(s) or make a full refund at its discretion.

4.4.3. If a User has pre-ordered Certificates before completing a course, the User can cancel unredeemed Certificates and a refund will be provided. Any redeemed Certificates will not be refunded.

4.4.4. If a User cancels their Premium subscription before the end of their term, any unspent ad-free subscription time will remain in place in a monthly subscription. No refunds will be available for unspent time on a monthly subscription. For annual terms, unspent time will be refunded with an adjustment of the fee based on a conversion of the fee from an annual to a monthly subscription. ODeL will immediately notify the User of unspent time that will remain on the account and the refund amount when the Premium subscription is cancelled.

5. ODeL offers a “Referral Reward” as an incentive to existing registered Users to refer friends to register on the ODeL platform. Users and their referrals agree to these additional terms:

5.1. ODeL will provide the User with a unique referral link which should invite a friend (a “referee”). The User may share this link among friends or through social media if they do not exhibit harassing behaviour.

5.2. For a Referring User to qualify for a reward, both the referrer and the referee must be registered ODeL Users.  The referee must not already have been a registered ODeL User. At least three (3) Referees from the unique referral link must register AND complete an ODeL course within 30 days of their respective registrations.

5.3. The Referring User can monitor the progress of their referral(s) and any Referral Award through their own User account dashboard.

5.4. More than one Referral Award may be granted to Referring User. The Referral Award is a 50% discount voucher on the cost of a Certificate purchase for a triplicate of referrals that purchase. If 25 referrals make a purchase, the Referral Award is a 50% discount voucher on the cost of a diploma purchase. The Referral Award cannot be substituted for cash and cannot be combined with any other ODeL offer.

5.5. Any suspected self-referrals or other fraudulent activity identified by ODeL automated analytics will automatically disqualify the identified Users from participating in the Referral Rewards. ODeL has absolute discretion in determining if a User that exhibits questionable behaviour should be removed from the Referral Reward programme.

5.6. ODeL reserves the right to change, suspend or cancel the Referral Reward programme at any time without notice.

6. ODeL operates an Affiliate Programme subject to a separate set of terms to be agreed between ODeL and a qualifying User that ODeL accepts onto the programme.  A qualifying User must be a registered ODeL User subject to these terms of use.

7. Any product name, brand or logo trademarks belonging to third parties are not affiliated with ODeL and are not endorsed, sponsored or connected unless explicitly stated otherwise.

8. Opinions and views expressed by Publishers or Users on the ODeL platform and social media are those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of ODeL.

8.1. When making comments, posts, shares and other contributions to the platform Users shall be respectful and treat other Users with politeness and courtesy, and refrain from abusive or inappropriate conduct, spamming or in any other way undermine the good reputation of other Users or ODeL.

8.2. Any User that has comments or queries about ODeL Services should direct these to the Customer Support channel where they will be dealt with speedily and confidentially. Users should not use open communication channels on the platform for dealing with their support requests or venting their anger at any unresolved issues.

8.3. The User shall express no views or post material which may be defamatory, sexually explicit, obscene, offensive, inflammatory, or hateful. The User will not impersonate others, be deceitful, promote illegal activity, harass other Users, incent violence or otherwise engage in unlawful activity on the platform.

8.4. ODeL reserves the right at its absolute discretion to remove any User generated content at any time that ODeL deems inappropriate.

9. Both ODeL and you the User are expected to abide by these terms of use and comply with applicable laws and government regulations.

9.1. Any deliberate violation of our terms of use, or unauthorised use of ODeL Services by the User will, at ODeL absolute discretion, result in immediate and automatic suspension or blocking of User account access to ODeL Services without notice, penalty or claim against ODeL.

9.2. The User will indemnify and hold ODeL (including its Affiliates, officers, directors, and employees) harmless against any claims, damages, losses or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of User breach of these terms of use or in relation to the User’s negligence, wilful misconduct, improper or abusive usage of the platform.

10. Either ODeL or the User can deactivate a User account at any time without reason, notice or further obligation. Where a User deactivates their account, ODeL will retain course tracking history data.

11. These terms of use constitute a binding agreement between ODeL and the User and are subject to Local and International Laws. . Any dispute arising out of this agreement shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Republic of Zambia.

Terms & Conditions

Using this website is subject to these terms of use:

The content of the pages of this website is for your general information and use only. It is subject to change without notice.

This website uses cookies to monitor browsing preferences. If you allow cookies to be used, some personal information may be stored by us for use by third parties.

Neither we nor any third parties provide any warranty or guarantee as to the accuracy, timeliness, performance, completeness or suitability of the information and materials found or offered on this website for any particular purpose. You acknowledge that such information and materials may contain inaccuracies or errors and we expressly exclude liability for any such inaccuracies or errors to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Your use of any information or materials on this website is at your own risk, for which we shall not be liable. It shall be your own responsibility to ensure that any products, services or information available through this website meet your specific requirements.

This website contains material owned by or licensed to us. This material includes, but is not limited to, the design, layout, look, appearance and graphics. Reproduction is prohibited other than under the copyright notice, which forms part of these terms.

All trademarks reproduced in this website, which are not the property of, or licensed to the operator, are acknowledged on the website.

Unauthorised use of this website may give rise to a claim for damages and/or be a criminal offence.

Occasionally, this website may also include links to other websites. These links are provided to provide further information. They do not signify that we endorse the website(s). We have no responsibility for the content of the linked website(s).

Your use of this website and any dispute arising out of such use of the website is subject to the Local and International Laws.

Main Instructors and Sub Instructors

REGISTRATION: The Registration Fee for Individual Instructors, Colleges, Training Institutions, Universities etc. is a One Time Payment of K 500 ZMW Non refundable Fee.

PAYMENTS: All Payment request should be done every month and will be directly credited to you banking accounting Details submitted upon registering as an instructor.

Ensure that you submit correct and accurate Banking Details. Open and Distance eLearning Platform will not be held responsible if payment is sent to wrong account Number.

All Payments will be handled and processed by Thinkbig Technologies.

Thinkbig Technologies gets a commission of 35 Percent for each course sold on our platform. e.g. if the course costs K150 ZMW, Thinkbig Technologies takes K 52.5 ZMW and K97.5 ZMW Goes to the Main instructor of the Course.

Instructors can monitor their earnings in real time and email notification will be sent to instructor’s email address. all payments history will also be available on instructor’s Dashboard.

PAYMENT REQUESTS: Requests for Payments are made within Open and Distance eLearning (ODeL) Platform through Main Instructors Dashboard. Instructor can request to withdraw their earnings.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Acceptable Payment Methods are Through Your Bank Account (Bank Transfer) and Mobile Money Account. For Banks Kindly allow 24 Hours for your Bank to Process your funds.

Transfer fees or Bank Charges are applicable when transferring funds to your desired Account. We do not set Transfer fees but these are charges set by your respective Bank or Mobile Money service Providers.