Charles Sturt U has released a guide to its economic importance to communities where it has campuses. The university reports what it kicks in to household income and FTE employment, in seven regional centres, plus Sydney and Canberra.

“We are proud of our record in educating students and conducting research that delivers lasting impact in regional Australia. We are also proud of our record in advocating on behalf of the citizens across the university footprint to ensure the prosperity of regional cities, rural towns and remote communities,” Vice Chancellor Andrew Vann says.

The idea that education should underwrite regional economies is as old as state governments setting up teacher colleges in the country and is politically non-negotiable. As education and training moves ever-more on-line, regional universities will want to keep it this way.