ATEM 2026 Exhibition Results: Innovation and the Future of Graduations

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After nearly a decade, the ANZ graduations community came together once again at the Association for Tertiary Education Management (ATEM) Graduations Conference 2026, hosted by The University of Queensland.

Built around the theme “Beyond the Stage: Innovation and Impact in Graduations,” the conference brought together graduation professionals, university leaders, event specialists, and technology providers to explore how graduation experiences are evolving in a rapidly changing world.

For Gradcut, the event was particularly meaningful. Not only were we proud to exhibit alongside industry peers, but we also had the opportunity to present with one of our longest-standing university partners, the University of Sydney.

From Ceremony to Content Engine: A University Graduation Video Case Study

One of the highlights of the conference was presenting the session:“From Ceremony to Content Engine: The University of Sydney Case Study.”While technology was part of the discussion, the session focused on something much bigger: what becomes possible when universities and providers work together to create better outcomes for graduates.

The University of Sydney didn’t simply adopt a new solution. Their team played an active role in helping shape and refine the experience, contributing valuable insights that continue to influence how personalised graduation videos are delivered today.

Why Graduation Experiences Are Changing

Graduation remains one of the most meaningful milestones in higher education.

However, the expectations of graduates have changed dramatically.

Today’s students live in a digital-first world. They capture memories instantly, share experiences in real time, and expect important moments to be available when they happen – not days or weeks later.

Historically, graduates often waited weeks for official photography and days for access to ceremony recordings, if any.

Now, universities have an opportunity to meet students where they already are.

By delivering personalised graduation video clips shortly after a student crosses the stage, institutions can extend the impact of the ceremony far beyond the venue itself.

Turning Graduation Moments into Meaningful Engagement

Graduation is no longer just about the event.

It’s about creating lasting moments that graduates can share with friends, family, and professional networks while strengthening their connection to the institution.

At ATEM 2026, many conversations centred around a common challenge facing universities: How do institutions maintain meaningful engagement with graduates after commencement?

Personalised graduation videos extend the impact of commencement.

Gradcut automatically transforms graduation livestreams into individual, university-branded video clips for every graduate.

Within approximately one hour of the ceremony, graduates receive their own stage-crossing video in multiple social-media-ready formats, including horizontal, vertical, and square versions.

The benefits extend beyond convenience:

Graduates receive a memorable keepsake almost immediately.
Universities gain authentic social sharing from thousands of graduates.
Alumni engagement begins from day one.
Existing livestream and production workflows remain unchanged.
Universities can extend the reach and impact of graduation content well beyond the ceremony itself.

Rather than relying on a single institutional social media post, universities can empower every graduate to become a storyteller and brand advocate.

Collaboration Is Driving the Future of Graduations

One of the strongest themes throughout ATEM 2026 was collaboration.

Successful graduation experiences depend on many different teams working together behind the scenes:

Graduation and ceremonies teams
AV and production partners
Photographers and videographers
Livestream providers
University marketing teams
Alumni engagement teams
Technology partners

The most impactful innovations happen when these groups work together with a shared goal: improving the graduate experience.

The University of Sydney partnership is a powerful example of how collaboration can create meaningful outcomes at scale while maintaining the integrity and tradition of graduation ceremonies.

Beyond 2026

We believe that future of graduations will not be built by any single organisation.

It will be shaped through partnerships, shared ideas, and a commitment to improving one of higher education’s most important moments.

Gradcut is grateful to be part of that journey.

A special thank you to Christine Fairchild and the University of Sydney team for sharing their experience and for being such fantastic partners over the years. We’re proud of what we’ve built together and excited to see where the next chapter takes us.

What started as a simple idea – helping graduates relive and share their moment – has now supported tens of thousands of students across Australia and beyond.

If you’re exploring ways to enhance the graduate experience without adding complexity to your ceremony operations, I’d love to have a conversation.

Book a demo to see how Gradcut can support your next graduation season.

Graduates Don’t Want a Three-Hour Ceremony Recording. They Want Their Moment

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That is the truth universities need to consider when thinking about graduation video.

For the institution, commencement is a major operation. It involves months of planning, academic tradition, venue logistics, livestream production, guest management, staff coordination, and careful timing.

For the graduate, it often comes down to one moment.

Their name is called.
They walk across the stage.
They shake a hand, smile, and turn back to the audience.
Their family cheers.

Then it is over

The moment may last less than half a minute, but it represents years of work, pressure, sacrifice, and persistence. For some, it is the first university degree in the family. For others, it is the end of a difficult chapter. For international students, it may be a moment their family watches from another country.

A full ceremony recording captures the event.

But it does not always capture what matters most to the graduate.

A recording is useful. A personal clip is meaningful

Full ceremony recordings still have value. They preserve the speeches, traditions, awards, and formal structure of the day. They are important for archives and for families who want to watch the ceremony in full.

But most graduates are not looking for the whole event.

They are looking for themselves.

They want the few seconds where their achievement becomes visible. They do not want to search through a three-hour video, guess the timestamp, crop the footage, or tell family members, “Start watching at 1 hour and 42 minutes.”

That is not how a once-in-a-lifetime moment should be received.

A graduate should not have to search for themselves inside their own graduation.

This is why more universities are rethinking how commencement video is created and delivered. The question is no longer only, “Did we record the ceremony?”

The better question is, “Did every graduate receive their moment?”

Students expectations have changed

Today’s graduates are used to fast, personal, mobile-first content.

They share life moments in real time. They communicate through short video. They expect important experiences to be easy to access, easy to watch, and easy to share.

Research from DataReportal shows that online adults now spend more than 18 hours per week on social and video feeds. Younger audiences spend even more time in these spaces. Pew Research Center has also shown that young people use platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat as part of their daily communication and identity.

Graduation naturally belongs in that world.

When graduates cross the stage, they want to share the moment with parents, grandparents, friends, colleagues, mentors, and professional networks. Some will post it publicly. Others will send it privately. Some will use it on LinkedIn. Others will save it as a family memory.

The behaviour is clear: graduates want their achievement to be easy to share while the emotion is still fresh.

That is why personalized graduation video clips are becoming more relevant to the modern student experience.

If universities do not provide the clip, families will capture it themselves

At almost every ceremony, families are already recording.

Phones are lifted from the audience. Someone zooms in from the back row. Someone misses the name announcement. Someone records from the wrong angle. Someone captures the moment with shaky hands because they are proud, nervous, and emotional.

The footage may be imperfect, but families share it because it is the only version they have.

For universities, this is a missed opportunity.

Graduation is one of the most shareable events in the academic calendar. The emotion already exists. The audience already cares. The graduate already wants to share.

A high-quality, branded clip simply gives them a better way to do it.

This is where commencement ceremony video automation AI can be valuable. Used well, it does not replace the ceremony or make it feel less human. It helps universities turn existing ceremony footage into individual moments graduates can keep and share.

Timing matters

A graduation video delivered on the same day feels exciting.

A video delivered a week later feels late.

The difference is not only convenience. It is emotional timing.

On graduation day, families are still together. Students are still wearing gowns. Friends are still sending congratulations. Social feeds are already filled with graduation posts. The moment is active.

That is the window when graduates are most likely to share.

This is why universities are exploring instant graduation video clips, university solutions and automated graduation video service models. The goal is not just to create a clip. The goal is to deliver it while people still feel connected to the moment.

For university marketing teams, this has strategic value.

Graduation social media reach university strategies work best when they are built around authentic student sharing. A graduate posting their own stage-crossing clip does not feel like advertising. It feels personal. That is why it travels further and feels more trustworthy.

A livestream can become more than a broadcast

Many universities already invest in graduation live streams.

This makes ceremonies accessible to families and friends who cannot attend in person. But once the ceremony ends, the livestream often becomes a long recording that few people revisit.

A graduation live stream video clip delivery platform changes the value of that footage.

Instead of one long broadcast, the livestream can become hundreds or thousands of individual graduate memories. The same footage can support students, families, communications teams, and alumni engagement.

This is not about creating more content for the sake of it.

It is about making better use of a moment the university is already capturing.

Alumni engagement starts at graduation

Many universities think of alumni engagement as something that begins after students leave.

In reality, it starts the moment they cross the stage.

Graduation is the transition from student to alumnus. It is emotional, symbolic, and deeply personal. The way a university handles that moment can shape how graduates remember the institution.

A thoughtful university graduation alumni engagement video strategy gives graduates a positive final touchpoint.

It says: your achievement matters. We saw it. We captured it. We made it easy for you to keep.

A single video will not build an alumni relationship on its own, but it can help begin that relationship with warmth and pride.

The future of graduation videos should feel more human

AI and automation can sound technical, but graduation is not technical.

It is human.

It is the parent crying in the audience. The graduate taking a deep breath before walking. The family watching from overseas. The student who nearly gave up but made it. The name that took years to reach the stage.

The role of technology should be to protect that emotion, not distract from it.

The future of graduation video is not about replacing tradition. It is about recognising the individual within it.

Because graduation may be a three-hour ceremony for the institution.

But for the graduate, it is the moment their name is called.

And that moment deserves to be seen.

For more information, Let’s book the quick 15 min session now

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Personalised Graduation Video Clips: What Leading Universities Are Doing Differently

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Graduation is one of the busiest social media moments of the year at a university. Graduates post. Families share. Networks light up. For a few hours after each ceremony, the university’s name is everywhere online.

Most of that moment goes to waste.

Not because graduates don’t want to share — they do. The problem is the content available to them. Phone footage from row twelve, shot from the wrong angle at the wrong moment. Some post it anyway. Others don’t bother. Either way, the university isn’t really in the picture.

The institutions doing this differently are giving graduates something worth sharing: a personalised, branded video clip of their own stage crossing, ready within hours of the ceremony.

This post looks at why that matters, how it works operationally, and what to look for when evaluating platforms.

The Social Media Opportunity Most Universities Are Still Missing

Universities already invest a lot in graduation day. The venue, the livestream, the photographers, the production team. The ceremony itself is usually excellent.

What happens after it ends gets far less attention.

Each graduate has 400 to 500 social media connections on average. A cohort of 1,000 graduates can reach up to half a million people — prospective students, parents, alumni, future donors. When graduates share high-quality branded content on the day of the ceremony, it lands while everyone’s attention is already on graduation. A week later, that window has closed.

Universities delivering personalised graduation video clips are seeing social reach of 250 times per graduate. That’s branded content, travelling through graduate networks, generated at no extra media cost.

What a Personalised Graduation Video Clip Actually Means

Not every graduation video is truly personalised.

A full ceremony recording is useful, but it is not personal. A long highlight reel is engaging, but it does not give each graduate their own moment. A file with a graduate’s name attached is not enough.

A genuine personalised graduation video clip captures the graduate’s individual stage crossing and prepares it for easy sharing.

A strong clip should include:

The graduate’s name being announced.
Their walk across the stage.
The handshake, acknowledgement, or presentation moment.
Their expression at the centre of the occasion.
University branding, such as the logo, colours, graduation year, or campaign message.
Social media-ready formats, including horizontal, vertical, and square versions.

The format matters. Graduates are not only sharing on desktop screens or traditional video platforms. They are sharing on mobile-first channels where vertical video is often the preferred format.

If a clip is only delivered in a horizontal format, graduates may need to crop or edit it before posting. Most will not. The easier it is to share, the more likely it is to be shared.

Why Same-Day Delivery Changes the Result

Traditional graduation video workflows take days. Footage is reviewed after the ceremony. Each graduate’s moment has to be found, edited, branded, and delivered. For large ceremonies, that adds up quickly.

By the time clips are ready, the sharing window has usually passed.

Same-day delivery works differently. When graduates receive a clip within an hour of the ceremony, they share it while the emotion of the day is still real. Families are still together. Messages are still coming in. Graduation is still the conversation.

That timing is what makes the content land.

For graduates, it feels like a proper keepsake — not an afterthought. For universities, it means branded content goes out at exactly the right moment, from people who genuinely mean it.

Research on alumni engagement also supports the timing. The closer to graduation that meaningful contact happens, the stronger the long-term relationship with the institution tends to be.

The Operational Change Teams Don’t Expect

Most commencement teams hear “clips delivered within the hour” and immediately think: more cameras, more staff, bigger production budget.

Usually, it’s the opposite.

The platforms that do this well don’t add workflow. They plug into the livestream a university already has. No new cameras. No new AV supplier. No changes to the ceremony itself. The clip processing runs in the background while everything else happens as normal.

The other thing worth knowing is that many modern platforms no longer need a pre-submitted graduate list. Graduates register through a portal or QR code before the ceremony. Matching is handled automatically. That removes one of the more time-consuming pre-event tasks for commencement and records teams.

For universities running several ceremonies a day during graduation season, simplicity matters a lot.

In practice, integrating a personalised graduation video platform usually comes down to three things: setting up the ceremony in the platform’s portal ahead of time, including the registration link in existing graduate communications, and connecting the livestream feed on the day. No post-event upload. No production handoff. Clips go out while the team is still on-site.

What to Look for in a Graduation Video Platform

When comparing platforms, four questions cut through most of the noise.

How quickly are clips actually delivered? Same-day delivery can mean within one hour or by end of evening. For social sharing, those aren’t the same outcome. Ask for the specific timeframe.

Does it work with your existing setup? Good platforms connect to your current livestream without requiring new equipment or a different AV provider. If the proposal involves ceremony disruption, that’s worth weighing carefully.

Are clips ready to post? Graduates need formats that work across Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Horizontal only isn’t enough. Vertical (9:16) should be standard, not an extra.

Is it proven at real scale? A pilot at one ceremony is very different from reliable delivery across hundreds. Graduation can’t be repeated. Ask for evidence of sustained, large-scale performance before committing.

A Better Standard for Graduation Video

Graduation hasn’t changed. What graduates expect after it has.

They expect their clip to arrive quickly. They expect it to look good. They expect it to be easy to share. That’s not a high bar — it’s just where expectations are now.

Universities that meet it create a better experience for graduates and get more value from a day they’ve already invested heavily in producing.

Gradcut does this by turning an existing graduation livestream into individual, branded video clips for every graduate — delivered within the hour, in the formats people actually use.

The ceremony stays the same. The AV setup stays the same. What changes is what every graduate walks away with.

If your team is planning for the next graduation season, it’s worth starting with a conversation about your current setup. Most institutions find it’s simpler to integrate than they expected.

About Gradcut

Gradcut is a cloud-based personalised graduation video platform for universities. Using real-time AI video processing, it delivers branded, individually edited graduation clips to graduates within one hour of their stage crossing — drawn directly from an institution’s existing livestream, with no changes to AV infrastructure and no post-event processing workflow required.If your team is evaluating options for the coming graduation season, the most useful first step is a conversation about your current setup. Most institutions find the integration is significantly simpler than expected. Book a 15-minute conversation

Gradcut Returns to NAACO 2026: Supporting the Next Generation of Commencement Experience

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Gradcut is pleased to be exhibiting at the North American Association of Commencement Officers (NAACO) 2026 Annual Conference, taking place from 22–25 February at the Westin Boston Seaport.

This marks our second consecutive year exhibiting at NAACO, and we are genuinely looking forward to reconnecting with the commencement and convocation professionals who make these milestone moments possible across North America.

NAACO remains the only professional association dedicated exclusively to the planning and delivery of post-secondary academic ceremonies. Its collaborative community plays a vital role in shaping how institutions honour graduates, families, and academic tradition, while adapting to evolving student expectations.

Building on a Strong First Year

Our first appearance at NAACO was an important milestone for Gradcut. The conversations we had with universities and ceremony teams confirmed a shared priority: enhancing the graduate experience without adding complexity or workload for already stretched teams.

Gradcut was developed specifically to support this goal. The platform works alongside existing video production and live-streaming providers, adding an automated layer that transforms a live ceremony feed into personalised stage-crossing video clips for each graduate. There is no need to change vendors, workflows, or technical setups.

Within one hour of walking the stage, each graduate receives a professionally edited, university-branded video clip, ready to download and share with family and friends. For institutions, this provides an immediate and meaningful extension of the ceremony experience, while strengthening digital visibility and alumni connection.

Designed for Commencement Teams

Universities using Gradcut value the practical benefits:

The system is fully automated, requiring no additional work from ceremony or communications teams.
Personalised videos are delivered the same day, while the moment is still relevant and emotionally resonant.
Clips are branded with institutional visuals, helping extend the university’s reach through organic social sharing.
Flexible commercial models allow universities to offer clips as a student-purchased option or as a complimentary, institution-funded experience.

Many institutions also see Gradcut as a faster and more accessible alternative to traditional digital photography, particularly for graduates and families who prioritise video and social sharing.

Looking Ahead to NAACO 2026

At NAACO 2026, we look forward to continuing these discussions, demonstrating how Gradcut fits seamlessly into existing commencement operations, and learning more about the challenges and priorities facing institutions today.

If you are attending the conference, we would welcome the opportunity to meet with you, share insights from recent ceremonies, and explore how personalised graduation video can support your institution’s goals.

We look forward to seeing the NAACO community in Boston.

Gradcut Video Marketing in Higher Education

Video Marketing in Higher Education: Why 2025 Belongs to Short-Form Content

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In 2025, video is no longer just one piece of a student recruitment strategy, it’s often the first impression a prospective student will have of your institution. And more often than not, that impression comes in the form of short-form video.

Students are turning to TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels not only for entertainment but to research their future. In fact, 84% say video plays a significant role in their college decision-making process. (Forbes, Axios, Deloitte)

But what resonates today isn’t glossy, polished promos. It’s real stories, told authentically, in formats that feel personal, not produced. If your institution hasn’t yet embraced short-form content as a regular part of its communication, this may be the year to reconsider. Treat graduation as a strategic content engine: with Gradcut, every graduate can receive a branded, share‑ready instant graduation video—typically within an hour of the ceremony, turning a milestone into thousands of authentic stories that amplify your brand.

Why short‑form is now your first impression

For Gen Z and the rising Gen Alpha cohort, social platforms are not just for entertainment—they are search engines. In 2024–2025, multiple surveys reported significant shifts toward social search (TikTok, YouTube) for discovery and evaluation, especially among 18–24‑year‑olds. For marketers, that means the channels where short videos live are often where prospects start their research. (Forbes, Axios)

At the same time, industry trend reports show that social video platforms dominate attention in 2025, challenging traditional media and reshaping how people consume information. That’s exactly where your first impression is being formed. (Deloitte)

Rethinking the Video Landscape in Higher Ed

TikTok continues to be the most powerful platform for peer influence. Students trust what they see from others in their shoes, current students sharing campus life, daily routines, or spontaneous moments.

Institutions that empower students to tell their own stories, participate in trends, or take over the university’s account for a day tend to see greater traction and trust. Hashtag strategies, quick campus tours, and even casual Q&As can go a long way in building a digital connection.

While TikTok captures attention, YouTube nurtures curiosity. It’s where students dive deeper, researching programs, exploring faculty perspectives, and imagining themselves on your campus.

Organizing content into helpful playlists (program overviews, accommodation tours, student testimonials) can help viewers self-navigate. Incorporating SEO-friendly titles and descriptions increases visibility for students actively searching.Reels offer a balance of spontaneity and curation. They’re a great space to spotlight events, student achievements, or moments that reflect your institution’s personality.

Partnering with student clubs, adding captions for accessibility, and leaning into short storytelling formats can help create a relatable, mobile-friendly experience.

What’s Working in 2025

Several key themes are shaping video engagement across platforms:

Authenticity over perfection – Audiences prefer content that feels genuine, even if it’s a little unpolished.
Short-form first – Videos under 60 seconds are leading in views and retention.
Student voice matters – Content created with students, not just about them, tends to resonate more deeply.

Not every institution has a video team on standby—and that’s okay. Small, consistent efforts can go a long way:

Consider building a student creator program – Even a few trained student contributors can bring fresh energy and authenticity to your social channels.
Repurpose what already exists – Previous long-form videos or recorded events can be re-edited into bite-sized clips.
Watch the data – Beyond views, look at metrics like watch time, shares, and comments. They reveal what content is truly connecting.

Why This Isn’t Just a Trend

This shift toward short-form and authentic video reflects a broader change in how people, especially younger audiences—search, learn, and engage online.

Today, students are searching TikTok for “best uni in Australia” or watching YouTube to get a feel for dorm life. Social platforms are becoming search engines in their own right, and universities that adapt to this behavior are the ones students will notice.

At the same time, employee-generated content is starting to play a bigger role. Whether it’s a quick video from a faculty member or a behind-the-scenes glimpse from an admissions officer, content that shows the human side of your institution helps build trust.

And it all starts with showing up, not perfectly but consistently, and with intention.

In this broader conversation about video, it’s also worth reflecting on milestone moments—like graduation. These events are some of the most emotional and shareable moments in a student’s journey. Yet for many universities, capturing and sharing those moments at scale has traditionally been expensive, time-consuming, or simply too complex.

Gradcut was created to change that.

It’s a simple, automated solution that delivers personalized video clips to each graduate within an hour of the ceremony. There’s no added work for your AV team, Gradcut integrates with your existing livestream setup and handles the rest.

Each student receives their own branded video, ready to share. For universities, this means thousands of proud, joyful moments being amplified across social media within minutes, not days.

What’s especially compelling is how little infrastructure change is needed. The University of Sydney, for example, used Gradcut to deliver over 140,000 personalized graduation clips without adding any extra production staff.

And while graduation is the starting point, the same approach can be applied to awards nights, formal events, or any moment worth capturing.

Graduation: your most powerful short‑form moment

No moment generates more authentic, high‑intent content than graduation—students, families, faculty, and alumni all share it. Historically, turning that ceremony into content at scale took days of editing and distribution.

With Gradcut, it takes about an hour. Gradcut captures your existing livestream and automatically produces personalised, branded stage clips for each graduate delivered via a secure portal, ready to share on TikTok, Reels, Shorts, and alumni channels. There’s no additional AV crew; the platform integrates with what you already run.

Real‑world proof: The University of Sydney partnered with Gradcut to deliver 140,000+ instant video clips across ~155 ceremonies to 23,500 graduates a modern layer on a 150‑year tradition.

Learn more: Watch our on‑demand webinar walking through the University of Sydney case study and implementation lessons.

Why it matters for marketing

Every clip is an authentic story from a trusted voice (the graduate), carrying your brand into peer networks.
Clips are short, vertical, and share‑ready the exact format platforms reward.

You turn a single event into thousands of moments that fuel recruitment, alumni engagement, and advancement campaigns.

The result is more than just a video, it’s a way to celebrate students, strengthen brand presence, and build a sense of community around moments that matter.

If you’re curious to learn more, there’s an on-demand webinar available that walks through the University of Sydney’s experience and what made it successful.

In the end, it’s not about keeping up with trends, it’s about meeting students where they are, sharing stories that matter, and creating content that feels as real as the experiences it reflects.

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Graduation Video 2.0: How Personalized Clips Supercharge University Branding

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In 2025, the landscape of higher education marketing is undergoing a significant transformation. Institutions are moving away from traditional, polished promotional materials and embracing authentic, student-centered storytelling. This shift is driven by the recognition that prospective students and their families seek genuine insights into campus life, valuing peer testimonials and real experiences over curated images.

The Rise of Authenticity in Higher Education Marketing

Enter Gradcut: A Fresh Take on Graduation Storytelling

Recent trends highlight the importance of authenticity in connecting with prospective students:

Peer Testimonials Over Institutional Messaging: Prospective students trust the experiences of their peers more than institutional narratives. User-generated content and student stories provide relatable and trustworthy insights into university life.
Short-Form Video Content: Platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels have made short, authentic videos a powerful tool for engagement. These formats allow institutions to showcase real student experiences in a digestible and shareable manner. (Read about new marketing trends here: https://www.freedom-ocr.com/blog/higher-ed-marketing-trends)
AI-Driven Personalization: Artificial intelligence enables universities to deliver personalized content, enhancing the relevance and impact of their messaging.

As noted by industry experts, “Authenticity is increasingly important in higher education marketing trends, with prospective students trusting peer recommendations more than traditional advertising.”

Graduation is one of the most meaningful moments in a student’s journey — and in today’s digital world, how that moment is captured and shared can make a lasting impression.

That’s where Gradcut comes in.

Born from a deep understanding of both university operations and digital media trends, Gradcut transforms graduation ceremonies into shareable, personalized stories. It captures the live-streamed event and, within an hour, delivers individual video clips to each graduate — complete with university branding and ready to share.

But this isn’t just about videos. It’s about giving students and families something real and immediate to celebrate — and giving universities a way to organically show what their community stands for.

Think about it: every video shared by a proud graduate becomes a piece of your brand narrative. It’s authentic, it’s emotional, and it travels further than any campaign ever could.

Graduation Video Content That Resonates in 2025

Today, audiences want the emotion now. Real-time, student-generated graduation video clips capture raw joy, replacing staged spotlights with honest celebration.

Why Gen Z & Gen Alpha Trust Peer Content

According to recent Higher-Ed Marketing Trends research, 84 % of prospects say peer video is their top decision driver. Authentic clips eclipse institutional voiceovers because they feel like a friend’s recommendation, not an ad (see the data).

Micro-Moments: 10-Second Clips With Big Impact

Attention spans are short; emotion is timeless. Gradcut delivers in multiple social media-ready formats—perfect for sharing, saving, and celebrating.

A single graduation video doesn’t need to be long to be legendary.

Why 10 seconds?

Matches modern attention spans—the average mobile user focuses for roughly eight seconds.
Forces narrative clarity—only the emotional peak makes the cut.
Optimises shareability—smaller files publish faster across campus Wi-Fi.

The Power of Vertical Video

94 % of commencement clips are viewed on mobile.
Vertical orientation secures 135 % more reach on Instagram Reels.

Mobile dominates commencement-day consumption: 90 % of social media users access feeds on their phones. Shooting your graduation video in a 9:16 aspect ratio aligns perfectly with that behavior — and the payoff is dramatic. Vertical ads on mobile enjoy up to 9× higher completion rates than horizontal formats, largely because they fill the entire screen and eliminate distractions.

Case Study: University of Sydney - 140K Graduation Video Milestone

Gradcut is already making waves. The University of Sydney, for example, used it to deliver over 140,000+ personalized videos across 97 graduations — no extra production time, no extra teams, just seamless integration with their existing AV setup.

And it’s not just for graduations. Awards nights, formal events, any milestone — Gradcut helps institutions celebrate with polish and purpose, while automating the parts that normally require days of post-production.

The result? Real stories told at scale. A better experience for students. And a smarter way to amplify your university’s voice.

Want to learn more? Watch the On-Demand Webinar to learn about the results and takeaways of the University of Sydney delivering 140,000 shareable graduation clips to their 23 500 grads.

Tech That Connects: University of Sydney and Gradcut Showcase Innovation at EduTECH 2025

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This year, we’re excited to return to Innovation Valley with a live case study presentation alongside our valued partners at the University of Sydney.

The session, titled “Technologies that Build Communities: The Case Study of Increasing Engagement, Enhancing Student Life, and Boosting Global Outreach,” will be held on 12 June 2025 at 11:00 AM at ICC Sydney.

From Concept to Impact

When Gradcut™ launched its AI-powered solution last year, our goal was simple: help students hold onto one of life’s biggest moments — and make it effortless for universities to deliver.

Partnering with the University of Sydney, we set out to do something new. The results?

23,500 graduates
140 ceremonies
120,000+ instant video clips delivered
Branded stage clips formatted for instant sharing across TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook

Making graduation work for the Instagram generation

This technology helps universities to connect with students who expect instant results while enhancing student life, strengthening the community, and extending the outreach. With over 60,000 enrolled students and 20,000 graduates annually, USYD needed a solution that could scale without breaking the budget.

Christine Fairchild, Graduations Manager at the University of Sydney, will present the results alongside the Gradcut co-founders at EduTECH 2025 on June 12, sharing how the change has boosted student engagement without adding administrative work.

The software works by plugging into existing streaming setups, meaning universities can add this service without changing their established graduation processes without major infrastructure investments—a key consideration for budget-conscious educational institutions. Each clip maintains the university’s branding and delivers professional-quality content automatically.

Behind the Tech: The Gradcut Platform

Gradcut, powered by Edit on the Spot, leverages AI and automation to transform how graduation ceremonies are captured and shared. The platform captures high-quality video feeds and identifies key moments in real time, generating branded, personalised clips in a range of social media-friendly formats. These clips are then delivered directly to students quickly, securely, and seamlessly.

Key Features of the Gradcut Solution:

Personalised videos delivered within 1 hour
Seamless integration with existing livestreams
Fully branded for each university
Optimised for social sharing
10x faster and half the cost of traditional video production

EDUtech showcase highlights practical innovation

The presentation at EDUtech 2025, Australia’s largest education technology event, will explore how media technology can strengthen campus connections while expanding institutional reach.

The session will cover practical lessons on balancing data privacy with automation, utilising graduation content to enhance institutional reputation, and creating meaningful digital experiences for today’s socially connected students.

The University of Sydney, founded in 1850 and ranked 18th globally, provides a solid case study for how traditional institutions can adapt to modern student expectations without losing their established character.

Join Christine Fairchild, Graduations Manager at the University of Sydney, and Martin Renaud, Co-Founder of Gradcut™, as they walk through this real-world example of how cutting-edge media technology can strengthen connections on campus and beyond.

They’ll cover:

How student life was enhanced through meaningful digital touchpoints
Why instant, personalised video matters for today’s students
Lessons on balancing data privacy, automation, and emotional storytelling
Using media to elevate an institution’s reach and reputation

Why It Matters: The Stats Behind the Story

From last year’s pilot to this year’s scaled implementation, the impact has been both measurable and meaningful. Statistics show a noticeable increase in student engagement across social platforms, as graduates eagerly share their achievements with friends and family.

The technology particularly resonates with students who may be the first in their family to graduate from university. Having an instant, shareable video of crossing the stage creates a powerful moment for families watching from home or celebrating together.

Learn More & Register for Free

Graduation like Never Before: Delivering Instant Videos at USYD with Gradcut

News

Those few seconds on the stage hold a lifetime of dedication, hard work, and pride! This May, the University of Sydney is once again making those moments special by offering graduates instant, personalised videos – delivered within an hour—thanks to Gradcut.

After an unconventional and promising initiative taken by the University of Sydney last year, it is once again facilitating the students this year by offering instant stage clips, making sure you share your proud moments.

A Look Back at 2024:

Last year, the University of Sydney partnered with Gradcut and became the first university in Australia to offer instant graduation videos. These clips were created in three formats (horizontal, vertical reel, and square) for easy sharing across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and more, helping students connect with their friends, families, and wider communities in real time.

The numbers speak for themselves:

13,500 graduates
97 ceremonies
88,000+ individual video clips delivered

For over 50 years, graduation memories have been captured the same way—through traditional photography and videography, requiring weeks of manual editing and delivery. In fact, the earliest known university graduation captured on video is the 1939 commencement ceremony at the University of Southern California (USC), recorded on 16mm film. Harvard University’s 1852 commencement was among the earliest documented with photographic evidence. Today’s graduates live in a digital age where instant, shareable content is the norm.

How Is Gradcut Different:

Gradcut uses ‘Edit on the Spot’ technology to transform the live stream of the graduation ceremony into thousands of individual video clips. Each student receives a personalised video of their moment crossing the stage, receiving their degree.

Here’s the best part: there’s no need for additional tech equipment or a filming crew. Gradcut integrates directly into the existing livestream setup, keeping things smooth and stress-free for the university’s media team.

Once the stream is captured, it is instantly edited into multiple social media-ready formats—perfect for sharing, saving, and celebrating.

Benefits:

Speed: Videos are delivered within an hour of the ceremony.
Simplicity: No disruption to your livestream or media team.
Branding: Each clip is customised with the university’s branding.
Grad Engagement: Instant sharing helps to foster a connection with the University.
Cost-Effective: Delivered faster and at half the cost of traditional services.

Looking Ahead to 2025:

Thousands of new graduates will step onto the stage this May—and Gradcut will be there again, turning their proudest moments into instant, shareable memories. Known for supporting startups, the university has demonstrated its commitment to embracing innovative technology.

“Collaborating with Gradcut has been an absolute privilege. Together, we’ve piloted their groundbreaking product, Gradcut. This innovative solution provides graduates with high-quality, digital versions of their stage-crossing within an hour of the ceremony, ready to share on social media or with loved ones. Gradcut truly captures the joy and pride of graduation day in a way that’s instant, convenient, and perfect for the digital age,” says Christine Fairchild, Graduation Manager at the University of Sydney.

As universities navigate an increasingly digital and competitive environment, Gradcut’s solution offers a powerful, modern way to extend the graduation experience far beyond the ceremony itself.

Gradcut Joins the NSW Going Global Export Program Texas Austin

Gradcut Joins the NSW Going Global Export Program and Heads Out to Texas for SXSW EDU!

News

We are thrilled to announce that Gradcut has been accepted into the NSW Going Global Export Program and will be showcasing our innovation at SXSW EDU in Austin, Texas, on 3 March 2025!

This incredible opportunity, supported by the NSW Government, will help us expand into the U.S. EdTech market—one of the largest and fastest-growing education sectors in the world.

SXSW EDU 2025: Where Education Leaders and Innovators Connect

SXSW EDU is where educators, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders come together to shape the future of education. With key trends like personalized learning, digital assessments, and mobile-first education solutions driving change, we’re excited to share how Gradcut is transforming the graduation experience—one video at a time.

Gradcut at SXSW EDU: Shaping the Future of Education

We capture milestones and create memories by delivering instant, personalized graduation videos, ensuring every student gets a professional-quality clip of their big moment on stage. Universities benefit from an effortless, efficient, and impactful way to enhance the graduation experience.

We’re incredibly proud to be part of this journey, representing Gradcut at SXSW EDU 2025. This milestone event brings together some of the most forward-thinking minds in education, technology, and innovation, providing a unique opportunity to engage with industry leaders who are shaping the future of learning. Being selected as part of the NSW Going Global Export Program reinforces our commitment to enhancing the graduation experience and expanding the impact of EdTech solutions worldwide.

This event isn’t just about sharing our journey—it’s about learning from others, exchanging insights, and discovering new ways to improve the education sector. From personalized learning solutions to advancements in digital storytelling, SXSW EDU is the perfect environment for meaningful discussions that inspire growth and innovation. We look forward to exploring emerging trends, gaining valuable perspectives, and forging collaborations that drive positive change in the EdTech space.

As we prepare for SXSW EDU, we’ll be sharing updates on our journey, insights from the program, and highlights from the event itself. We’re eager to connect with like-minded professionals, universities, and partners who are passionate about enhancing student experiences through technology. If you’re attending, we’d love to hear from you—let’s connect and shape the future of education together!

GradCut Unveils Groundbreaking Innovations at NAACO 2025 Annual Conference

Reflecting on NAACO 2025: Shaping the Future of Graduations

News

After three inspiring days at the NAACO 2025 Annual Conference, we reflect on the insightful discussions, cutting-edge innovations, and meaningful connections formed with commencement professionals across North America.

Hosted in Long Beach, CA, NAACO 2025 united leaders in higher education to examine the latest advancements in commencement planning, from digital transformation to enhancing the graduate experience. The conference served as a dynamic platform for exchanging ideas, strategies, and collaborations, emphasizing the evolving nature of graduation ceremonies to align with the shifting needs of universities and their students.

Understanding NAACO

The North American Association of Commencement Officers (NAACO) is a professional organisation that supports commencement officers from colleges and universities in creating meaningful, well-executed graduation experiences. By facilitating knowledge-sharing, best practices, and innovation, NAACO strengthens the collective expertise of professionals responsible for planning and delivering these significant academic milestones.

NAACO 2025 focused on addressing the complex challenges facing commencement officers today. From managing safety in times of activism to risk management, the cultural significance of academic regalia, career progression, and the role of social media in modern ceremonies, the conference delivered essential insights for crafting seamless, engaging, and impactful graduation experiences.

Highlights from NAACO 2025

Sessions such as “More Than Just a Party Planner” underscored the evolving role of commencement officers, while “Slash Manual Work While Improving the Graduate Experience” showcased how AI and automation are streamlining university ceremonies. The conversations throughout the conference reinforced the growing need for enhanced, digital-first, and shareable graduation experiences—an ethos that aligns with Gradcut’s commitment to revolutionising how these moments are captured and shared.

The event also provided excellent networking opportunities, expert-led sessions, and deep dives into the dynamic responsibilities of commencement officers, who balance event management, project planning, alumni engagement, and cross-campus coordination.

Key Takeaways from NAACO 2025

Embracing Innovation in Higher Education – Keynote Speaker Ken Okel inspired attendees to adopt innovative approaches and confidently navigate change to create exceptional student experiences in today’s evolving academic landscape.
Advancing the Careers of Commencement Officers – A panel featuring Dani Bomgaars, Carmela Arstill, Yvonne Moar, James Cuaresma, and Amber Sega explored professional growth opportunities and emphasised the expertise required to execute flawless graduation ceremonies.
Addressing Growing Security Concerns – Kristin McDaniel and Jeff Housman shared insights on how Texas State University revamped its security policies to strike a balance between safety and celebration at commencement events.
Maximising Instagram for University Engagement – Jess Leggett provided practical strategies on using Instagram to enhance university visibility, drive engagement, and elevate the student experience.
Modernising Commencement While Preserving Tradition – Courtney Buzan highlighted how the University of South Carolina is leveraging technology to enhance graduation ceremonies while honouring long-standing traditions.
Real-Time Crisis Management in Commencement Planning – Alanna Vernon and Denise Luong shared expert strategies for responding swiftly to security threats, ensuring that ceremonies proceed smoothly despite unexpected challenges.

Gradcut’s Role in Transforming Graduation Ceremonies

At Gradcut, we believe every graduate deserves an instant, shareable moment to celebrate their achievement. Our AI-powered video solution captures live-streamed ceremonies and delivers each graduate a personalised, branded video clip of their stage-crossing moment—ready for social media within an hour.

Why universities choose Gradcut:

Instant, personalised video clips for each graduate
Seamless social media integration to boost engagement
Zero additional workload for commencement teams—just enhanced benefits

Looking Ahead

NAACO conference was an incredible opportunity to connect with universities looking to modernise their graduation ceremonies. As we move forward, we’re excited to continue working with institutions to make every graduate’s moment more personal, shareable, and impactful.