A NORTH-EAST college has clinched a major deal, forging a worldwide partnership with the Army.

Darlington College of Technology has been negotiating the project with the Ministry of Defence for two years.

Yesterday, principal Peter Shuker confirmed that the campus would be providing support for on-line learning by Army personnel, at home or abroad.

The contract is worth £1.7m in its first year.

The service will be delivered through the Government's University for Industry (UFI) Learn Direct network, publicised on television and in the national press.

The UFI established a contract with the Army, with Darlington appointed to provide administrative and professional support for the 50 learning centres which have been proposed.

Basic skills will be the priority to begin with, although a full range of Learn Direct facilities will be available at all of the centres, allowing for more ambitious projects in years to come.

Darlington's bid was enhanced by experience of service life and requirements at the new campus at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, which opened in 1999, but can already boast 4,000 on-line learners.

Mr Shuker said: "I am extremely pleased with the outcome, after two years of working closely with the Army and UFI.

"We have demonstrated that on-line learning, with sympathetic support from tutors, is very popular with new learners, particularly those who have not been able to access more traditional forms of education.

"Catterick has been our test bed, and military and civilian people have enjoyed their experiences."

The officer commanding the Army Education Centre at Catterick, Major Melanie Dickinson, said yesterday: "Through close cooperation with the college, many, many soldiers have been able to improve their education qualifications using on-line services.

"As with many other initiatives within the garrison, our aim has been to provide the most modern and innovative facilities for the soldiers living in the garrison.

"If the success of the education programmes at Catterick Garrison have played a part in helping the college win this latest contract for British forces worldwide, I am delighted.

"We look forward to further successful ventures in the future."