CLASS OF 2025: IBM Champion awarded an Honorary Doctor of Technology

Since reviving the IBM-i User Group (i-UG) in 1993, Mike Ryan has led the UK’s largest IBM user group and served as a key figure in the global IBM community. He has supported countless organisations in modernising their technology strategies while championing inclusive, sustainable innovation. 

A passionate advocate for education, Mike has spent over 30 years fostering industry-academic collaboration. He organises national and international i-UG conferences, offering fully funded places to University of Wolverhampton students, connecting them with global experts and opening doors to internships and employment. 

Mike continues to champion the University and its students on national and international stages, helping shape the future of computing and technology education. 

Mike said, “The University of Wolverhampton has taken a bold step in engaging fully with this Industry-Academia collaboration.  They send out a clear signal to other universities that bold ideas, linked to real-world needs, can — and should — be at the heart of further education.  I am immensely proud that this is recognised in such a way.” 

Honorary awards are presented by the University of Wolverhampton to people who have made a significant contribution to their field of expertise. 

To find out more about graduate success, check out the Every Story Has a Start web page which showcases our exceptional alumni across the globe doing incredible things. High achievers from the worlds of literature, business, sport, film and the arts feature, sharing how their lives and careers have developed since their days studying with us.   

 After graduation, graduates become members of the Alumni Association and are encouraged to keep in touch, to take advantage of a wide range of benefits and support on offer, including a discount for postgraduate study.      

To learn more about the University’s Alumni Association please visit here, where graduates can also update their details with the Association.    

The Clearing hotline number is 01902 968555 for anyone looking for courses starting in September and to find out more about the University’s Open Days.