Charles Sturt University (CSU) has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with training and employment organisation VERTO.Pro Vice-Chancellor (International Education and Partnerships) Professor Heather Cavanagh signed the MoU with VERTO's Chief Executive Officer Mr Ron Maxwell.VERTO is a community-owned, not-for-profit organisation that provides a range of services including training, apprenticeships, employment and community support to individuals and businesses from its 26 locations across NSW.CSU and VERTO have entered an academic agreement, initially aiming to market a holistic tertiary education offering in China. The agreement will also help to create pathways for domestic and international learners by mapping education paths from vocational training to academic qualifications.Professor Cavanagh said, "VERTO is examining what opportunities exist for its clients and seeks to establish pathways for them from its present training offerings into Charles Sturt University programs. This could provide access to a new pool of students for the University via this pathway, and the new agreement gives VERTO a better way to articulate what further studies clients can undertake."The agreement is interesting because the University has a very similar geographic footprint to VERTO, and a similar view to support local communities with training services. VERTO's plan to deliver services in China could become a pathway into the University's courses in the future."VERTO's Chief Executive Officer, Ron Maxwell, said VERTO was proud to partner with such an exceptional institution like CSU."We are thrilled to enter an academic partnership with Charles Sturt University. It's also great that two local education institutions in Bathurst are able to collaborate in such a meaningful way," Mr Maxwell said."The University's graduate employment rate is the best, and this aligns with VERTO's core value of helping to change people's lives through training and employment."We look forward to working with the entire Charles Sturt University team now and into the future."