A UNIVERSITY chief is guaranteed to have met thousands of people by the end of this week.

Professor Graham Henderson, the vice-chancellor of Teesside University, will shake hands with 2,000 graduates as he presents degrees, diplomas and certificates.

The first students graduating from the Middlesbrough university's BSc (Hons) course in crime scene science, and two-year foundation degree programmes in chemical technology, engineering, early years and healthcare sciences will swell the numbers of young achievers at this year's celebrations.

Prof Henderson will present the awards at Middlesbrough town hall.

Ten ceremonies have been organised, and family members, friends and other guests will increase the numbers enjoying the celebrations to nearly 7,000.

There will be a procession of academic staff and university chiefs from the university to the town hall tomorrow.

In addition to the thousands of graduates, five high-achievers will receive honorary degrees at 11am on Friday.

These are Emmerdale actress Elizabeth Estensen, sculptor Antony Gormley, Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson, Hollywood computer graphics maestro and Teesside graduate Andrew Lomas and long-serving councillor Hazel Pearson.

The honorary graduates will receive their degrees from the university's chancellor, former North MP Lord Brittan of Spennithorne. This will be Lord Brittan's last ceremony as chancellor, after 12 years' service.

Degree, diploma and certificate winners will be published in The Northern Echo, tomorrow, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.