Dr Anna de Jager received her doctoral degree in religious studies last week during the spring graduation ceremony of the University of the Free State (UFS).
De Jager “was the star of the day because she was the oldest person [93] who received her qualification during this graduation ceremony”, the university announced. The title of her thesis is Die Belewing van Geloofsekerheid by die Gereformeerde Afrikaanssprekende Adolessente Leerder.
Also in the spring graduation ceremonies, UFS conferred an honorary doctorate on Dr Monty Jones, a Sierra Leonean who has spent the past 32 years of his career in Africa working in international agricultural research for development institutions.
Dr Jones is the executive director of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa and co-winner of the illustrious 2004 World Food Prize.
In the spring ceremonies overall, UFS awarded 300 degrees, including 21 doctorates, to students from the faculties of economic and management sciences and natural and agricultural sciences, as well as 274 diplomas to students from all the faculties.