WORK on a £13m university building will start in a North-East town in a two weeks, it was revealed as scores of students graduated yesterday.

Teesside University’s vice-chancellor, Professor Graham Henderson, presented 86 graduates with their degrees and diplomas achieved at the university’s £2m centre at Darlington College, which was awarded Beacon status on Wednesday.

The new five-storey building will be erected next to the college in Central Park. A joint prospectus will be published in May.

The ceremony was the third annual graduation to be held in town.

Before the ceremony, an academic procession circled the town centre, setting off from Darlington Town Hall, travelling along Prebend Row, past Joseph Pease Square and along High Row to the Dolphin Centre, where the ceremony was held.

As well as the vice-chancellor, the procession included Darlington’s mayor, Councillor Jim Ruck, and senior members of the university, the college and the council.

Speakers at the ceremony included Coun Ruck, Darlington College principal Tim Grant and Prof Henderson.

Prof Henderson said: “Within two weeks, hopefully, we should see building work start next to the college for our £13m building in Central Park.

“I think you are blessed to have two outstanding colleges and an outstanding university in your town.”

Coun Ruck said: “It is a privilege as mayor of this town to attend a graduation ceremony.

It is a great privilege to welcome such a ceremony for the third time.

“I look forward to the next phase of exciting partnership between the university and our town. I have every confidence the university’s investment in our community will flourish and grow.”

Mr Grant said he was proud the college, which is now in the top eight per cent of 1,800 post-16 education institutions in the country, was working so closely with the university.

“We want to be the best college in the country, working with the best university in the country,” he said.

“Yes, we are ambitious, the university is ambitious and we are collectively working to help every learner achieve their maximum potential.”

Prof Henderson said graduates should follow the example of Teesside University, which this year became the first modern university to win The Times Higher Education magazine University of the Year.

“Don’t be scared to have a dream. Don’t think things which seem impossible are impossible, because nothing, in fact, is impossible,” he said.

“If you work hard enough, impossible things are possible.

“Don’t be scared to dream.”

■ Two graduates not included in the list published yesterday taking part in yesterday’s ceremony were Daniel Greenwell, who gained a Higher National Certificate in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Louise Gaughan, who achieved a Foundation Degree in Arts in Early Years Sector-Endorsed.