Tycoon's £1m university handout

Paul Ramsay studied in Birmingham in the 1970s and '80s

A computer tycoon has donated £1m to his old university to help students from poorer backgrounds.

Paul Ramsay has given the money to the University of Birmingham's School of Computer Science, where he obtained an obtained a BSc, MSc and a PhD in the 1970s and '80s.

The donation will be used to pay for bursaries for students and to fund hi-tech research projects.

Mr Ramsay, 47, originally from Northfield in Birmingham, moved to California in 1983 where he made his fortune.

'Cutting-edge research'

He worked for several computer companies, before helping to set up Brocade Communications along with former workers at Hewlett Packard and Sun Microsystems.

Mr Ramsay said he and his wife Yuanbi were delighted to be involved with the School of Computer Science once more.

This extraordinary contribution will have a very real impact on the lives of the students and staff Professor Michael Sterling University Vice-Chancellor

"My wife and I wanted to give something back to our universities - the institutions that gave us the tools to get where we are today," Mr Ramsay said.

"Education and research should have a long-term effect and we are delighted to help the University of Birmingham by supporting cutting-edge research in computer science and those students who experience financial hardship."

The University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Sterling, said: "We are thrilled that Paul and Yuanbi have made this wonderful donation.

"Student bursaries and the funding of cutting-edge research are the backbones upon which we will secure our future as a leading UK research and teaching university.

"This extraordinary contribution will have a very real impact on the lives of the students and staff in the School of Computer Science."