ATEM 2026 Exhibition

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.

ATEM 2026 Exhibition
Gradcut Video Marketing in Higher Education

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

News

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.