Pioneer | Cookie Policy

This Cookie Policy explains how Pioneer Academics (“we,” “us,” or “our”) uses cookies and similar tracking technologies (“Trackers”) on our website, related subdomains, and associated applications (collectively, the “Site”).

At Pioneer Academics, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring transparency in how we use cookies and other tracking technologies. This Policy describes the types of cookies we use, their purposes, and how you can manage your preferences.

This Cookie Policy applies to our Site and any online services operated by Pioneer Academics that use cookies and similar tracking technologies. By using the Site, you consent to the use of cookies and Trackers as described in this Policy. If you do not agree with our practices, please adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies or discontinue using the Site.

We use cookies and other Trackers to enable essential website functionality, analyze site performance, personalize content, enhance your browsing experience, and comply with applicable privacy and data protection laws. Some of these Trackers are essential for proper website operation (“Strictly Necessary Cookies”), while others support analytics, advertising, or personalization and may require your consent under relevant privacy laws.

1. WHAT ARE COOKIES AND TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES?

Cookies are small data files stored on your browser or device (computer, mobile phone, tablet, or other device) by websites you visit. They may contain unique identifiers and are used to remember your preferences and activities across the Site.
“Tracking technologies” or “Trackers” include cookies, pixel tags, beacons, scripts, device identifiers, SDKs, and similar tools that collect and process data about your interaction with our Site.
We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to collect information about your browsing activities on our website and other digital platforms. This includes IP addresses, browser types, device types, location data, and details about how you interact with our website, such as pages visited, links clicked, and time spent on the Site.
For simplicity, all such technologies are collectively referred to as “cookies.” Some require your consent, which can be withdrawn at any time.
This Site uses both first-party cookies (set by Pioneer Academics) and third-party cookies (set by service providers such as analytics and advertising partners).

2. TYPES OF COOKIES

We categorize cookies into three primary types based on their function and purpose:

2.1. First-Party Cookies

First-party cookies are created and stored directly by Pioneer Academics when you visit our website. They help ensure that essential features of the Site function correctly and securely. These cookies are unique to our domain and cannot be accessed by other websites.
Purpose:
- First-party cookies are primarily used to support session management, verify your identity (authentication), and remember your login details so that you can navigate between pages without needing to log in repeatedly.
- They also help maintain security and store user preferences, ensuring a smooth and consistent browsing experience.
Lifespan:
- Some of these cookies are session-based, meaning they are automatically deleted when you close your browser.
- Others are persistent cookies, which may remain on your device for up to 24 months or until you delete them manually.

2.2. Third-Party Cookies

These cookies are placed by external service providers that work with Pioneer Academics to enhance the Site’s functionality, measure usage, and deliver relevant advertisements. These providers may include trusted analytics and marketing partners such as Google Analytics, Meta (Facebook) Pixel, and Microsoft Clarity.
Purpose:
- Third-party cookies collect aggregated data about how users interact with our Site. This information helps us understand visitor behavior, measure engagement with our content, and improve overall performance.
- They may also be used to provide tailored advertisements based on your interests or prior browsing activity.
Lifespan:
- The duration of third-party cookies varies depending on the provider’s own settings and policies. Some may expire at the end of a session, while others can remain active for several months or longer.
- You can manage or delete them through your browser settings or via the respective provider’s opt-out tools.

2.3. Technical Cookies

Technical cookies are fundamental to the operation and security of the Pioneer Academics website. Without them, key features and services may not function properly.
Purpose:
- These cookies are responsible for maintaining the Site’s technical stability.
- They ensure that pages load correctly, enable secure log-ins, manage data traffic between servers, and prevent fraudulent activities or unauthorized access. Essentially, they make sure the website runs smoothly and safely at all times.
Lifespan: Technical cookies are typically session-based, meaning they are stored only while your browser is open and are automatically deleted once you close it.

2.4. Functional Cookies

Functional cookies improve the user experience by remembering choices and settings you have made on the Site. These cookies allow the website to offer a more personalized and convenient browsing experience.
Purpose: They remember preferences such as language selection, location settings, or display options so that you do not need to reconfigure them each time you visit. This helps create a consistent, user-friendly interaction that reflects your personal preferences.
Lifespan: Functional cookies are usually persistent, meaning they remain on your device for a certain period (or until you manually delete them). This allows the Site to “remember” your settings between visits.

2.5. Strictly Necessary Cookies:

Strictly necessary cookies are essential for the operation of our website and enable you to navigate our site and use its core features. These cookies are required for basic website functionality, including session management, security, authentication, load balancing, and fraud prevention.
Without these cookies, certain services and features that you have requested cannot be provided. These cookies are processed based on contractual necessity and our legitimate interests in ensuring the security, functionality, and reliability of our website. Because these cookies are essential to the provision of our services, they do not require your consent and cannot be disabled.
Strictly necessary cookies are automatically enabled and cannot be opted out of, as they are critical to the website’s operation. However, you may configure your browser to block or delete these cookies, though doing so may prevent you from accessing certain areas or features of the website.

STRICTLY NECESSARY COOKIES TABLE

Name	Domain	Expiration	Description
pressidium_cookie_consent	.pioneeracademics.com	3 years	Stores the visitor’s cookie consent preferences (analytics, marketing, etc.). Ensures the consent banner remembers choices and complies with GDPR/CCPA.
__cf_bm	.pioneeracademics.com	1 hour	This cookie, set by Cloudflare, is used to support Cloudflare Bot Management.
_node	apply.pioneeracademics.com	session	Ensures your session is consistently routed to the correct server (“node”) so you stay logged in and the site runs reliably.
_hash	apply.pioneeracademics.com	1 year 1 month 4 days	Used for security to verify your session and protect against tampering. Helps us keep your account and activity safe.
_hashV	apply.pioneeracademics.com	1 year 1 month 4 days	Works with _hash to manage secure session tokens and versioning. Ensures compatibility when the system is updated.

2.6. Performance and Analytics Cookies

Performance and analytics cookies collect information about how visitors use our website, including which pages are visited most frequently, how long visitors spend on each page, error messages encountered, and traffic sources. These cookies help us measure and analyze website performance, identify areas for improvement, and understand user behavior patterns. The information collected by these cookies is aggregated and anonymized; it does not directly identify individual users.
In jurisdictions requiring opt-in consent (such as the UK, EEA, and other GDPR-compliant regions), we collect performance and analytics cookies only after obtaining your explicit consent. In jurisdictions that permit opt-out mechanisms (such as the United States, India, Australia, and New Zealand), these cookies may be set by default, but you retain the right to opt out at any time. Alternatively, in certain circumstances, we may rely on our legitimate interests in improving website functionality, user experience, and service quality, provided that such interests do not override your fundamental rights and freedoms.
You may accept, reject, or manage performance and analytics cookies through the cookie consent banner displayed on your first visit or by accessing the cookie preference management tool available at any time. You may also disable these cookies through your browser settings.
Note: Disabling performance and analytics cookies will not affect your ability to use our website, but may limit our ability to improve and optimize your user experience.

PERFORMANCE AND ANALYTICS COOKIES TABLE

Name	Domain	Expiration	Description
CLID	www.clarity.ms	1 year	Microsoft Clarity set this cookie to store information about how visitors interact with the website. The cookie helps to provide an analysis report. The data collection includes the number of visitors, where they visit the website, and the pages visited.
SM	.c.clarity.ms	session	Microsoft Clarity cookie set this cookie for synchronizing the MUID across Microsoft domains.
MR	.c.bing.com	7 days	This cookie, set by Bing, is used to collect user information for analytics purposes.
_clck	.wpengine.com	1 year	Microsoft Clarity sets this cookie to retain the browser's Clarity User ID and settings exclusive to that website. This guarantees that actions taken during subsequent visits to the same website will be linked to the same user ID.
_cltk	pioneeracademics.com	session	This cookie is installed by Microsoft Clarity tool and stores information about how visitors use the website
_ga_*	.wpengine.com	1 year 1 month 4 days	Google Analytics sets this cookie to store and count page views.
_ga	.wpengine.com	1 year 1 month 4 days	The _ga cookie, installed by Google Analytics, calculates visitor, session and campaign data and also keeps track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors.
_gcl_au	.pioneeracademics.com	3 months	Google Tag Manager sets this cookie to experiment advertisement efficiency of websites using their services.

2.7. Advertisement and Targeting Cookies

Advertisement and targeting cookies are used to deliver personalized advertisements that are relevant to your interests. These cookies may be set by our advertising partners and social media platforms (such as Meta/Facebook, Google Ads, and Microsoft Advertising) to build a profile of your interests based on your browsing behavior across multiple websites. They track your online activity to display targeted advertisements on our website and on third-party websites you visit. These cookies also help us measure the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns and limit the number of times you see the same advertisement.
In jurisdictions requiring opt-in consent (such as the UK, EEA, and other GDPR-compliant regions), advertisement and targeting cookies are placed on your device only after obtaining your explicit consent. In jurisdictions permitting opt-out mechanisms (such as the United States, India, Australia, and New Zealand), these cookies may be set by default, but you retain the right to opt out at any time.
You may accept, reject, or manage advertisement and targeting cookies through the cookie consent banner displayed on your first visit or by accessing the cookie preference management tool available at any time. You may also disable these cookies through your browser settings or by opting out of interest-based advertising through industry opt-out platforms.
Note: Disabling advertisement and targeting cookies will not prevent you from seeing advertisements, but the advertisements you see may be less relevant to your interests.

ADVERTISEMENT AND TARGETING COOKIES TABLE

Name	Domain	Expiration	Description
MUID	.clarity.ms	1 year 24 days	Microsoft Bing sets this cookie to identify unique web browsers visiting Microsoft sites. These cookies are used for advertising, site analytics, and other operational purposes.
MUID	.bing.com	1 year 24 days	Microsoft Bing sets this cookie to identify unique web browsers visiting Microsoft sites. These cookies are used for advertising, site analytics, and other operational purposes.
ANONCHK	.c.clarity.ms	10 minutes	The ANONCHK cookie, set by Bing, is used to store a user's session ID and also verify the clicks from ads on the Bing search engine. The cookie helps in reporting and personalization as well.
_fbp	.wpengine.com	3 months	Facebook sets this cookie to store and track interactions.
_gcl_ls	pioneeracademics.com	never	Used by Google AdSense to understand user interaction with the website by generating analytical data.
lastExternalReferrerTime	pioneeracademics.com	never	Used by Meta Pixel to record when a visitor last arrived from another site (such as Facebook, Instagram, or elsewhere) for advertising and attribution purposes.
topicsLastReferenceTime	pioneeracademics.com	never	Used by Meta Pixel to remember the last time it checked browser topics for personalized advertising.
lastExternalReferrer	pioneeracademics.com	never	Detects how the user reached the website by registering their last URL-address.
SRM_B	.c.bing.com	1 year 24 days	Used by Microsoft Advertising as a unique ID for visitors.

3. DURATION OF THE COOKIES

The duration for which a cookie remains on your device depends on whether it is a session or a persistent cookie, as well as its purpose and applicable legal requirements.

Session Cookies: These are temporary cookies that are automatically deleted once you close your browser or end your session. They enable essential functionalities such as secure login, navigation, and maintaining your session state across pages.
Persistent Cookies:
- These cookies remain on your device for a predefined period or until you manually delete them. They help us recognize you when you return to our Site, remember your preferences, and provide a more consistent browsing experience.
- The retention period for each cookie may vary depending on its function (for example, analytics cookies may last for a few months, while preference cookies may remain for up to two years).
We periodically review our cookie retention schedules to ensure compliance with applicable privacy and data protection laws. You can view the exact duration of individual cookies in our cookie consent manager or by reviewing the cookie settings in your web browser.

4. DATA SHARING AND THIRD-PARTY COOKIES

Some cookies are placed by trusted third-party service providers who assist us in analytics, marketing, and technical operations. Third parties may process your data in accordance with their own privacy policies.
We do not sell or trade cookie-related personal data. Transfers outside your jurisdiction occur under appropriate safeguards, such as Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) or equivalent measures.
Collecting data through cookies that are not strictly necessary for the functioning of the website, such as cookies used for analytics or marketing purposes. You can manage your cookie preferences through our Cookie Consent mechanism.

5. HOW WE USE COOKIES AND TRACKERS

Pioneer Academics uses cookies and similar tracking technologies (“Trackers”) for several important purposes that together help maintain a secure, personalized, and efficient online experience.

These technologies ensure that the Site functions correctly, allow us to analyze its performance, and enable us to deliver relevant content and services to our visitors.

5.1. Basic Functionality

These cookies are fundamental to the operation of the Site. They allow you to browse pages, log in securely, submit forms, and access restricted areas without interruption. They also store your privacy preferences and ensure that the Site’s features, such as session continuity and language selection, work properly.
Without these cookies, the website would not remember who you are between pages, and certain services (like secure access to your account) would not function.

5.2. Performance Analysis

Performance and analytics cookies help us understand how visitors interact with the Site so we can improve usability, load speed, and navigation. They provide anonymized insights into which pages are most visited, how long users stay, and whether any errors occur.
By analyzing aggregated data, we can detect broken links, improve layout, and ensure that new features perform smoothly across different devices and browsers.

5.3. Personalization

Personalization cookies remember your preferences and tailor the Site’s content to your interests. They adjust elements such as recommended programs, layout preferences, or recently viewed pages so that your experience feels familiar and relevant each time you visit.
These cookies create a more engaging and efficient browsing experience by adapting the Site’s appearance and content based on your previous interactions.

5.4. Marketing

Marketing cookies are used to deliver advertisements and promotional content that align with your interests. They also measure the effectiveness of our campaigns and help limit the frequency with which you see the same advertisement.
When permitted, these cookies allow Pioneer Academics and its trusted partners (such as Google Ads or Meta Pixel) to display relevant opportunities or educational updates that may interest you, ensuring our communications remain useful and not repetitive.

5.5. Experience Enhancement

Experience-enhancement cookies support interactive and dynamic features that make the Site easier to use. They help optimize video playback, form completion, and accessibility settings.
By storing minor interface preferences—like video volume or input data temporarily—these cookies ensure that features respond quickly and seamlessly, improving overall satisfaction.

5.6. Interaction with External Social Networks and Platforms

These cookies and Trackers enable you to interact with third-party social networks or external platforms directly from our Site. For example, using a “Share” or “Tweet” button may allow information about your visit to be sent to that platform.
They make it easy to share content or connect with Pioneer Academics on social channels. Please note that any data collected through these interactions is governed by the respective platform’s privacy policy and your personal account settings.

5.7. Measurement and Analytics

Measurement cookies provide statistical data that help us evaluate the effectiveness of the Site and related outreach efforts. These may include internal analytics tools as well as trusted third-party services such as Google Analytics, which may collect data in anonymized form.
How they help: The insights gained allow us to identify audience trends, refine educational content, and make informed improvements to enhance future user experiences.

6. THIRD-PARTY COOKIES AND SERVICES

Our Site may contain links, embedded content, or features provided by trusted third parties (such as Google Analytics, Meta, or YouTube). These providers may place their own cookies or tracking technologies on your device to enable analytics, advertising, or interactive features.
Pioneer Academics does not control how these third parties use or manage data collected through their cookies. We recommend reviewing their respective privacy and cookie policies for more information. You can manage or disable third-party cookies through your browser settings or our cookie preference banner.

7. COOKIE RETENTION AND DELETION

7.1. Cookie Retention and Deletion:

Pioneer Academics uses cookies on our website for various purposes, including functionality, performance analytics, and marketing. The retention of cookies is subject to the following guidelines:

Session Cookies: Session cookies are stored temporarily and are automatically deleted when you close your browser. These cookies are necessary for the basic functionality of our website.
Persistent Cookies: Persistent cookies remain on your device until they expire, as specified in the “Expiration” column of the cookie table on our website, or until you manually delete them through your browser settings.

7.2. Cookie Deletion:

You have the right to delete cookies at any time. You can manage and delete cookies using any of the following methods:

Clearing your browser’s cache and cookies: You can manually delete cookies through your browser settings.
Withdrawing consent via cookie preference management tool: You may use our cookie preference management tool to withdraw consent and delete non-essential cookies at any time.
Automatic deletion via browser settings: You can configure your browser to delete cookies automatically when you close it.
Please note that blocking or deleting certain cookies may impact your experience on our website and may limit the functionality of some features or services.

8. DATA PROTECTION AND PRIVACY

Personal data collected through cookies is processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy. While cookies themselves do not typically contain personal data, information derived from them may be combined with personal information you provide.

9. CHILDREN’S COOKIES

Our Site is not directed toward children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly place cookies or collect data from minors. If such information is discovered, it will be deleted promptly.

10. CHANGES TO THIS COOKIE POLICY

We may update this Policy periodically to reflect changes in technology, law, or our practices. Updates will appear on this page, and the “Last Updated” date will indicate when revisions took effect.

11. CONTACT US

For questions or concerns about this Cookie Policy, please contact: info@pioneeracademics.com.