The Freedom of Information Act 2014, which came into effect on 14 October 2014, gives everyone the legal right to access information held by public bodies, including universities. The Act is built on the principle that official information should be available to the public to the greatest extent possible, consistent with the public interest and the right to privacy.
Under the Act, members of the public have the right to request access to records held by SETU, to seek explanations for decisions that directly affect them, and to have personal information corrected if it is incomplete, incorrect or misleading. These rights support transparency in how the university operates and ensure individuals can access and verify the information we hold about them.
The Act reflects three key rights of the individual:
- The right to know what information is held about them in official records (subject to certain exemptions)
- The right to inspect those records
- The right to request that any inaccurate personal data be amended
While the Freedom of Information Act does not change the university’s objectives or functions, it strengthens the way we manage information and communicate with the public. It also requires us to process FOI requests within specific timeframes and to publish key information about our structure, services, decision-making, finances, and previous FOI requests. This is all available on this site, including our Publication Scheme, Disclosure Log, guidance on how to make a request, frequently asked questions, and contact details for our FOI team.