Delivering Instant Videos at USYD with Gradcut

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

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.

Graduation Video Clip AI

Tradition Meets Innovation: How Gradcut’s Instant Video Delivery Enhances the Graduation Experience

At Gradcut, we are dedicated to transforming how graduation memories are captured and shared. Graduates and their families can often find traditional methods of documenting this milestone slow and time-consuming, leaving them waiting for days and weeks to relive their special day. By delivering personalised video clips within an hour of the ceremony, our platform offers a fresh and modern approach to this cherished tradition.

Gradcut seamlessly integrates with existing video production and live-streaming services educational institutions use to capture the significant moment of the ceremony. Through the use of our sophisticated AI editing tools, we are able to rapidly create and deliver customised video clips, eliminating long wait times and enhancing the quality of the experience for each graduate. Even though graduation ceremonies are steeped in tradition, these modern advancements in technology and innovation can certainly enhance them.

Graduates can quickly post their clips on social media, celebrating their achievements with friends and family around the world. Having loved ones from far and wide join in on the celebration instantly enhances the celebration, making it even more memorable.

As a result, the university gains significantly more visibility because of the sheer volume of these posts. Enhanced with University branding, each clip extends the institution’s reach, engaging a broader audience and attracting both current and prospective students’ attention. As a result of this widespread exposure, the university’s presence and impact are elevated.

Apart from enriching the ceremony’s experience, Gradcut strives to contribute positively to the global community. By directing a portion of our profits towards supporting education in developing countries and underserved communities, we empower the next generation of students to achieve their dreams. And every clip you buy from Gradcut contributes to the future of students worldwide.

Discover today how Gradcut can elevate your graduation ceremony – www.gradcut.com

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University of Sydney Pilots Automated Graduation Video Service from Edit on the Spot

Gradcut breakthrough technology delivers over 50,000 video clips to 8,500 University of Sydney graduates in a 19-day AI video processing marathon!

Designed for universities by the startup founders of Edit on the Spot – a real-time automated video editing software for events, Gradcut automatically edits live-streamed footage into personalised video clips for each graduate.

“We have been developing Edit on the Spot technology for the past 2 years and saw a great application for it in graduation ceremonies and awards. Gradcut saves unending hours of editing, rendering, exporting and uploading by analysing the footage to identify each graduate, automatically editing and delivering social media clips, while the moment is still relevant – shares Martin Renaud, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer.

“Graduation is such a momentous occasion,” said Christine Fairchild, Graduations Manager at the University of Sydney. “The Gradcut product allows graduates to share this significant moment, as widely as they wish after the event, and re-live the memory again and again.”

The University of Sydney will pilot Gradcut till the end of May offering graduates a memorable keepsake of their special day.

We’re grateful to the University’s Graduation Team for supporting innovation and providing a startup with an opportunity to launch a new product, ” says Anastasha Renaud, CEO and co-founder of Edit on the Spot. “Graduates we interacted with, and especially, parents, were extremely excited about this opportunity to receive an up-close video on stage. It is a truly memorable moment when you receive your hard-earned qualification, and it happens only once or a few times in your life.”

Gradcut seamlessly integrates with existing video production or live-streaming services; its user-friendly online portal is designed for an effortless setup for multiple ceremonies, providing the university with metrics and reporting. Videos are delivered to graduates via a secure student portal in various social media formats for purchase shortly after graduation.

“We chose Akamai for its continuous cloud security compliance and with the support Fastlane Solutions delivered platform in record timing,” says Martin Renaud.

Beyond capturing memories, Gradcut aims to make a meaningful impact by donating a portion of profits to support education initiatives in developing countries and indigenous communities. Making a difference, one graduation video at a time.