The KAUST Information Technology Department blog
02 July, 2025
At KAUST, we’re surrounded by discovery, innovation, and fast-paced collaboration. Whether you're teaching, studying, conducting research, or supporting operations, clear and effective communication makes a big difference in how we learn and work together.
Sometimes, a quick email isn’t enough. Other times, a live meeting is too much. That’s where video tools like Cisco Vidcast and Microsoft Stream come in.
Both are available to support the academic, business, and research communities at KAUST, helping you share your message visually, on your own time, and in your own words.
Here’s how they can support your daily work and learning.
Think of the times when explaining something would be so much easier if you could just show it. A quick screen recording to walk someone through a process. A short recap of your lecture or lab update. A personal message to provide context beyond a wall of text.
Cisco Vidcast is perfect for these moments. It lets you record your screen, camera, or both, and send a link to your message in minutes. No editing, no uploading, no scheduling required.
Faculty can use Vidcast to respond to student questions or explain an assignment update. Researchers can use it to showcase a quick proof of concept or walk a collaborator through recent data. Staff can explain how to navigate a new system or form. And students can use it to practice presentations, share project progress, or reflect on what they’ve learned.
If you can say it, you can Vidcast it.
While Vidcast is great for fast, on-the-fly videos, Microsoft Stream helps you organize and share more formal or lasting content. Any Teams meeting you record is automatically saved to Stream, and you can also upload your own videos.
Stream is integrated into Microsoft 365, which means your videos stay secure within KAUST’s environment and are easy to share through OneDrive, SharePoint, or Teams. You can add closed captions, searchable transcripts, and even chapters to help your viewers navigate the content.
Faculty can use Stream to store lecture recordings for students to revisit. Research teams can build a video repository of recurring meeting highlights, onboarding content, or equipment tutorials. Administrative staff can turn recorded town halls or training sessions into an accessible archive for others to reference anytime.
If you want to build knowledge that lasts, Stream is a smart place to start.
There’s no need to pick one tool over the other. In fact, many people across KAUST use both.
Both tools help you move beyond email chains and repeated meetings, giving your message a more human and visual touch.
You can sign in to both platforms using KAUST Single Sign-On (SSO) with your KAUST credentials (your username and password):
Want to learn more?
The academic, business, and research communities at KAUST thrive on clear, timely, and accessible communication. Tools like Vidcast and Stream are more than just convenient. They help bridge gaps between people, ideas, and progress.
So whether you're explaining a concept, documenting a process, or saving time for your team, try using video to tell your story. You might be surprised how much more impactful it becomes.
