Education Video Platform

Video Streaming for UK Universities & Education

Capture lectures, build on-demand video libraries and provide gated access for enrolled students. A flexible video platform that integrates with your LMS and meets the stringent data protection requirements of UK higher education.

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160+
UK Universities
92%
Students Want Lecture Replay
2.8M
UK HE Students (2025/26)
78%
Use Video for Revision

Built for Modern Education

From lecture theatres to remote learning, Dacast gives universities and colleges the video tools students and staff expect in a digital-first education environment.

Lecture Capture & Live Streaming

Stream lectures live from any theatre or classroom. Dacast works with ceiling-mounted PTZ cameras, USB webcams and software encoders like OBS Studio. Capture the lecturer, slides and screen simultaneously for a comprehensive recording.

Video-on-Demand Library

Every lecture is automatically archived and transcoded into a searchable VOD library. Students can revisit content at any time, on any device. Organise by module, semester, lecturer or topic for easy navigation.

Gated Student Access

Restrict video access to enrolled students using password protection, SSO integration or domain locking. Control access at the module level so students only see content relevant to their courses.

LMS Integration via API

Dacast's REST API enables deep integration with Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard and Brightspace. Embed video players within course pages, automate uploads from capture systems and sync viewing data back to your LMS for attendance tracking.

Mobile Apps & Responsive Player

Students watch on phones, tablets and laptops. Dacast's HTML5 player adapts automatically to any screen size with adaptive bitrate streaming that adjusts quality based on connection speed — perfect for students on campus WiFi or mobile data.

Engagement Analytics

Track which lectures are most watched, where students pause or rewatch, average viewing duration and completion rates. Identify content that may need improvement and verify student engagement with required materials.

GDPR for Student Data

UK universities handle some of the most sensitive personal data in the education sector. Dacast takes student privacy seriously, with comprehensive data protection measures designed for the unique requirements of higher education.

  • ✓ UK GDPR & DPA 2018 Compliant: Full compliance with UK data protection legislation. Data processing agreements available for all institutional clients.
  • ✓ Registered UK Entity: DACAST LIMITED is registered in London, England, providing local legal accountability and data handling assurance.
  • ✓ Data Minimisation: Configure exactly what viewer data is collected. Disable unnecessary tracking and retain data only for the period your institution requires.
  • ✓ DSAR Support: The platform supports data subject access requests, enabling your data protection officer to respond to student data requests efficiently.
  • ✓ Cookie Consent: Configurable cookie consent notices that comply with the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) and UK GDPR cookie requirements.

Data Protection Checklist

  • UK GDPR compliant
  • Data Protection Act 2018
  • AES-256 encryption (at rest & in transit)
  • Data processing agreements
  • Cookie consent (PECR compliant)
  • Data subject access request support
  • Configurable data retention periods
  • SSO/SAML integration
  • Registered UK entity (London)
  • Children's Code awareness

How It Works

Deploy video across your institution in three steps. Most universities complete initial setup within a single term.

1

Install & Configure

Connect lecture capture hardware or software to Dacast. Configure SSO, access controls and LMS integration. Dacast's team provides onboarding support for institutional deployments.

2

Capture & Stream

Record and stream lectures automatically. Content is transcoded, encrypted and stored in your VOD library. Schedule recurring captures that align with your timetable.

3

Distribute & Track

Students access content via your VLE, LMS or university portal. Track engagement, verify viewing and export analytics for academic review and quality assurance processes.

"After evaluating Panopto, Kaltura and Dacast, we chose Dacast for its API flexibility and cost-effectiveness. We integrated it with our Moodle instance in under two weeks. Students now have access to over 3,000 lecture recordings, and our analytics show 92% of enrolled students access the VOD library at least weekly during exam revision."
Dr. James Whitfield
Director of Digital Learning, UK Russell Group University

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions from UK universities and education providers evaluating video platforms.

Yes. Dacast provides a comprehensive REST API and JavaScript SDK that enables integration with learning management systems including Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard and Brightspace (D2L). You can embed video players directly within LMS course pages, automate video uploads from lecture capture systems and pull viewing analytics back into your LMS for attendance and engagement tracking. For institutions using LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability), Dacast's API can be wrapped in an LTI-compliant integration by your development team, enabling seamless single-click access from within course modules.
Dacast complies with the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Student viewing data is processed in accordance with these regulations, and Dacast operates a registered UK entity (DACAST LIMITED, London) for local accountability. The platform supports data processing agreements, cookie consent configuration and data subject access requests. Universities can configure exactly what viewer data is collected, how long it is retained and who has access within the institution. For institutions subject to additional requirements under the Children's Code (Age Appropriate Design Code) for students under 18, Dacast can provide specific compliance documentation.
For basic lecture capture, you need a camera (many lecture theatres already have ceiling-mounted PTZ cameras installed), an audio source (lectern microphone or wireless lapel mic for the lecturer) and encoding software or hardware. Free software like OBS Studio handles encoding and can capture both the camera feed and screen share (presentation slides) simultaneously. For a more automated, hands-off setup, hardware encoders like the Epiphan Pearl or Magewell Ultra Encode can be permanently installed in lecture theatres and configured to start streaming automatically at scheduled times based on the university timetable. Dacast is compatible with all major RTMP-capable encoders.
Yes. Dacast offers multiple access control methods suitable for educational environments. You can use password protection (share module-specific passwords via your VLE), domain restriction (only allow embedding on your university's domain), SSO/SAML integration (students authenticate via your institution's single sign-on system such as Shibboleth or Azure AD), or geographic restrictions. When combined with API integration, you can build automated access control workflows that sync with your student records system, automatically granting and revoking access as students enrol in or withdraw from modules.

Transform Your University's Video Strategy

Join forward-thinking UK universities already using Dacast for lecture capture, VOD libraries and student engagement. Start your 14-day free trial or request an institutional demo.

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