Joel Isabirye is currently a Lecturer, Research coordinator (Journalism and Media Studies) and a member of the doctoral/research committee in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kampala International University. He is a seasoned media consultant with a career spanning over 20 years. 

Joel successfully defended his thesis for the award of a PhD in Development Economics from the University of Juba, Sudan in October 2019. He is also pursuing a different PhD in Communication at Dublin City University, Ireland.  He has published in top journals and presented papers in various international conferences. In the last 3 years, he has supervised over 10 undergraduate research. Joel is the recipient of a 100,000 Euros Dublin University Grant for PhD in Communications. He is also the recipient of a consultancy grant of 20,000 USD to set up the National Defense University, South Sudan, 2007 recipient of the Ford Foundation Colloquium on the Media in Uganda (10,000USD), in 2005 was awarded 10,000USD by the Belgian Technical Cooperation Grant for Masters, in 2003, he received 5,000 USD grant from the Austrian Overseas Development Cooperation.

Joel is a member of the International Communication Association (ICA), Broadcast Educators Association (BEA), International Association for the Study of Popular Music (IASPM).

Apart from teaching, Joel is also a consultant to the following organisations; British Broadcasting Cooperation (BBC), Standard TV and radio , Uganda, Parliament Radio and Television, HG Television, Magic FM Uganda, National Defense University, Fire FM, Veras FM, National Catholic Television in Uganda, Radio Sapienta, Digida FM, Akaboozi Radio, Salt Television, Uganda Martyrs University, Uganda National Radio Authority and many others.

He is in the right position to develop students at Kampala International University towards attaining great heights in Africa and globally.