Purpose
This policy governs the use of hyperlinks on the official website of the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST). It ensures that links are used responsibly to enhance user experience, maintain content integrity, and uphold institutional standards.
Scope
The policy applies to all internal and external hyperlinks embedded within the IASST website, including those in text, images, documents, and multimedia content.
Linking to IASST Website
- Permission-Free Linking: External websites may link to the IASST homepage or specific subpages without prior permission, provided the link:
- Does not misrepresent IASST or its content
- Does not imply endorsement or affiliation without written consent
- Opens in a new browser tab or window to preserve IASST’s layout and navigation
Recommended Practices:
- Use descriptive anchor text (e.g., “IASST Research Highlights”)
- Avoid framing or embedding IASST pages within other websites
- Outbound Links from IASST Website
- Relevance and Reliability: External links are provided to support academic, scientific, and administrative content. Linked sites must be reputable, secure, and relevant to the context.
- Disclaimer: IASST is not responsible for the content, accuracy, or privacy practices of external websites. Users are advised to review the policies of linked sites independently.
- Review and Maintenance: External links are reviewed periodically to ensure functionality and relevance. Broken or outdated links will be removed or updated.
Internal Linking
- Navigation Enhancement: Internal links are used to guide users to related content, improve accessibility, and reduce redundancy.
- Consistency: All internal links must follow standardized URL formats and naming conventions approved by the Web Information Manager.
Prohibited Linking Practices
Linking to websites that contain:
- Malicious software or phishing content
- Offensive, discriminatory, or illegal material
- Commercial promotions unrelated to IASST’s mission
- Using misleading or deceptive anchor text
- Embedding links that auto-download files without user consent
Policy Review
This policy is reviewed annually or as needed to reflect changes in technology, user behavior, and institutional priorities.