CSU contributes $170.4 million to the gross regional product of the Bathurst local government area, and $41.6 million to the Orange LGA.

Last week, representatives from 10 Australian universities, and Brown University in the United States, came together in Bathurst to discuss the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, an international assessment that allows universities to demonstrate commitment to their communities and to share best practice in the sector.

CSU and the University of Technology Sydney are co-leading the Australian pilot of the Carnegie Classification, recognising university contributions to communities beyond traditional measures such as academic rankings.

But what does university engagement with communities actually look like? Importantly, it is about the exchange of knowledge and resources between the university and the community - industry, businesses, local government, schools, not-for-profit organisations and community groups - for mutual benefit.

CSU has a history of strategic planning for the good of the regional communities it serves. For example, the School of Dentistry and Health Sciences in Orange was established to address critical regional workforce shortages.

In 2020, the Joint Program of Medicine will welcome its first cohort of 37 students to the Orange campus.

80 per cent of these medical students will come from regional areas and, as has been proven at other regionally-based medical schools, a much higher percentage of graduates will stay on to establish careers as regional practitioners.

The School of Engineering in Bathurst was also established to address workforce shortages, and now has partnerships with local councils and businesses to help address the workforce shortages in the field of engineering.

A report commissioned by global leader in engineering education and research, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, identified CSU as one of the top four emerging engineering courses in the world and has described the CSU degree as 'completely rethinking what engineering educating should look like'.

By being part of the Australian pilot of the Carnegie Classification, CSU will have the opportunity and know-who to improve and increase its civic engagement.

"Being a lead university to participate in the first Australian trial of the Carnegie Classification is an institutional highlight for Charles Sturt University," vice-chancellor Professor Andrew Vann said.

"This process will lift our standards of community participation and engagement and produce better outcomes for the communities in which we operate - core to the strategic vision of the university."