Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Environmental Sciences and Technology & Faculty Research and Publications Coordinator
Directorate of Graduate Studies, Research and Innovations

Assoc. Prof. Gershom Atukunda (Ph.D.) is the current Director, Graduate Studies, Research and Innovations at Bishop Stuart University. He also served as a Dean Faculty of Business, Economics and Governance at the same institution. Prof. Gershom holds an MA in development studies and a Ph.D. in the same area under the mentorship of Professors Murindwa Rutanga and Mushemeza. Gershom has attended and presented in International conferences within East Africa and Sudan. Recently Gershom was appointed Chairman Board of Education for Ankole Diocese.
He has competencies in competencies in Quantitative methods (QM), Basic/Business Statistics, Research methods both at Graduate and Undergraduate levels, Management skills improvement, Human Resource Management, Monitoring and Evaluation(M&E), Participatory Development Methodologies, Public Policy and Management, Public Sector Management; Theory and Practice, Environment and Sustainable Development, Vulnerability, Gender and Management/Development, Urbanisation and Sustainable Development, Climate Change, Adaptation and Management/Development, Integrated Rural Development among others. Full profile
The Directorate of Graduate Studies, Research and Innovations was opened in 2013 as a Graduate school. In 2017, it was upgraded to a Directorate. The major role being to enhance the quality of graduate education by
- Promoting graduate studies, research, and innovations
- Coordinating graduate studies, research, and innovations across the University
- Improving the mentorship of graduate students The directorate fosters excellence in graduate studies, research, and innovations by providing leadership and administrative support guided by the principles of quality, diversity, and integrity.
The directorate fosters excellence in graduate studies, research and innovations by providing leadership and administrative support guided by the principles of quality, diversity, and integrity.
Objectives
These are programmes offered across the Directorate of Graduate Studies, Research and Innovations
Programme | Code | Duration | Intake | Session |
---|---|---|---|---|
Doctor of Philosophy in Economics | PhD-ECON | 3 Years | August | Weekend |
Doctor of Philosophy in Development Studies | PhD-DS | 3 Years | August | Weekend |
Doctor of Philosophy in Development Management | PhD-DM | 3 Years | August | Weekend |
Master of Arts in Development Studies | MADS | 2 Years | August | Weekend |
Master of Social Economics and Community Management | MSECM | 2 Years | August | Weekend |
Master of Business Administration | MBA | 2 Years | August | Weekend |
Master of Social Work | MSW | 2 Years | August | Weekend |
Master of Human Resource Management | MHRM | 2 Years | August | Weekend |
Postgraduate diploma in Office Management and Secretarial Studies | PG-DOMSS | 1 Year | August | Weekend |
Postgraduate diploma in Development Studies | PG-DS | 1 Year | August | Weekend |
Postgraduate diploma in Public Administration and Management | PGPAM | 1 Year | August | Weekend |
Programme | Code | Duration | Intake | Session |
---|---|---|---|---|
Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture and Community Innovations | PhD-ACI | 3 Years | August | Weekend |
Master of Agriculture and Rural Innovations | MARI | 2 Years | August | Weekend |
Master of Science in Climate Change and Food Security | MSCCFS | 2 Years | August | Weekend |
Master of Science in Agronomy (Dry Land Farming) | MSC.A | 2 Years | August | Weekend |
Master of Business Information Technology | MBIT | 2 Years | August | Weekend |
Master of Agribusiness and Value Chain Management | MAVM | 2 Years | August | Weekend |
Postgraduate diploma in Agriculture and Rural Innovations | PG-DARI | 1 Year | May/August | Weekend |
Programme | Code | Duration | Intake | Session |
---|---|---|---|---|
Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health | PHD-PH | 3 Years | August | Weekend |
Master of Public Health | MPH | 2 Years | August | Weekend |
Master of Science in Counseling Psychology | MSC.CP | 2 Years | August | Weekend |
Postgraduate diploma in Counseling | PG-DC | 1 Year | August | Regular/Weekend |
Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Education | 1 Year | August | Regular/Weekend |
Programme | Code | Duration | Intake | Session |
---|---|---|---|---|
Doctor of Philosophy in Language, Culture and Society | PHD-LCS | 3 Years | August | Weekend |
Doctor of Philosophy in Religion and Modernity | PHD-RM | 3 Years | August | Weekend |
Master of Arts in Literature and Communication | MALC | 2 Years | August | Weekend |
Master of Education Management, Planning and Administration | MEAP | 2 Years | August | Weekend |
Postgraduate diploma in Education | PGDE | 1 Year | August | Weekend |
Postgraduate diploma in Education Management, Planning and Administration | PGDEM | 1 Year | August | Weekend |
Programme | Code | Duration | Intake | Session |
---|---|---|---|---|
Master of Laws | LLM | 2 Years | May/August | Weekend |
Currently, staffing of the Directorate includes:
- The Acting Director
- The Coordinator of Graduate Studies – Acting Coordinator of Research and Grants
- Registrar / Administrative assistant.
- Office attendant.

Assoc. Prof. Gershom Atukunda
Ag. Vice-Chancellor and Director, Graduate Studies, Research and Innovations