Mr Gift Kugara

Gift Kugara is a Lecturer in Analytics at London South Bank University Business School, where he teaches a range of undergraduate modules and contributes to the development of future professionals in analytics, digital business, and decision-making. He currently serves as Cohort Lead for the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship, reflecting his leadership in higher education, student development, and professional practice.

He holds a PhD in Management Science from Kent Business School, alongside an MSc in Business Analytics and a BSc (Hons) in Actuarial Science from the University of Kent. He also holds a BA (Hons) in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the Open University, an Advanced Undergraduate Diploma in Data and Systems Analysis from the University of Oxford, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education and Teaching from London South Bank University. In addition, he has completed a Graduate Apprenticeship in Teaching in Higher Education , further reflecting his commitment to professional development, practice-based learning, and leadership in higher education. He is a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society (FRSS) and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), demonstrating his commitment to both disciplinary excellence and high-quality teaching.

At London South Bank University, Gift has taken on a number of important academic responsibilities. He has served as Module Leader for The Digital Economy,Business Intelligence, Practical Analytics, Internal Moderator for the Professional and Digital Skills module, a Personal Tutor, and a member of the MSc Economics Review Team. His academic work is underpinned by a strong commitment to applied learning, student success, curriculum development (recently Data Analytics) , and the integration of emerging technologies into teaching and practice.

Beyond the university, he serves as Vice Chair of the Early Career Network of the Operational Research Society and is a member of the UKRI/EPSRC Mathematical Sciences Early Career Forum, reflecting his growing contribution to wider academic and professional communities. He also holds the IBM Data Analyst Certificate and the IBM Data Science Professional Certificate, which further strengthen his expertise in data practice and industry-relevant analytics. In addition, he serves as a Senior County Referee with London FA, a role that reflects leadership, discipline, sound judgement, and the ability to perform effectively in high-pressure environments.

Before entering academia, Gift built a diverse professional background across public service, healthcare, and finance. He served in the British Army’s Royal Logistics Corps as a Supply Controller, in the Royal Army Medical Corps at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine in Birmingham as a Clinical Physiologist, and later in the NHS as a Finance Officer. These experiences gave him a distinctive professional foundation that continues to shape his practical, disciplined, and solutions-focused approach to teaching, leadership, and research.

His research interests are broad and interdisciplinary, spanning artificial intelligence, big data analytics, data mining, sustainability, triple bottom line performance, and environmental dynamism. He is particularly interested in how advanced analytical methods can be used to interpret complex datasets and generate practical solutions to real-world business and societal challenges. His work is marked by a commitment to rigorous research, methodological innovation, and meaningful practical relevance.

Gift is currently engaged in publishing research on the relationship between big data analytics and sustainability performance in the BRICS economies, with a focus on understanding how advanced analytics can shape sustainability outcomes in emerging markets. Through this work, he continues to contribute to important conversations at the intersection of analytics, technology, management, and sustainable development.

Taken together, his profile reflects a distinctive blend of academic rigour, professional breadth, leadership, and applied expertise. Across higher education, research, professional practice, and public service, Gift  brings a strong and credible voice to the field of analytics and its growing role in shaping business, policy, and society.

1. Data for Deciaion Making(UG)
2. The Digital Economy(UG)
3. Professional and Digital Skills(UG)
4. Business Intelligence (UG)
5. Practical Analytics(UG)
6. Research Methods(UG & PG)