Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
11 April 2025 | Story Onthatile Tikoe | Photo Onthatile Tikoe
Zane Dippenaar
Dr Zané Dippenaar (30) is the youngest PhD graduate in this year’s Business Management class from the University of the Free State.

Zané Dippenaar, a 30-year-old marketing and project manager at a Cape Town-based solar energy company, is the youngest person in this year’s graduating class to earn a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Management degree from the University of the Free State this year.  

But despite this achievement, the newly minted Dr Dippenaar says she would not have predicted she would study her way to PhD level. 

“I wasn’t particularly academically driven before tertiary education, but I knew from early on that I wanted to either become a teacher or pursue something in the world of business,” she says. Her natural ability and her family’s encouragement led her to explore entrepreneurship and marketing, which she soon developed a passion for.

 

Overcoming challenges and finding support

Dr Dippenaar’s academic journey was marked by significant challenges, including balancing work and study commitments. However, she credits her supervisors and family for helping her stay motivated. 

Her dissertation, titled ‘Advertising and Brand Loyalty in the South African Solar Industry’, showcases her expertise in marketing and branding.

“There were moments filled with doubt, setbacks, and exhaustion, but I was fortunate to have a strong support system who continuously encouraged me and reminded me of what I was working towards,” she says.

 

Achieving a personal milestone

Dr Dippenaar’s PhD achievement is not only an academic milestone but also a personal triumph. She had set a goal of completing her PhD before turning 30 and achieved it just weeks before her birthday. “That was a personal milestone I had set for myself, and achieving it was incredibly fulfilling,” she says. 

She plans to apply the knowledge she gained in the industry and potentially return to academia. She advises younger students to trust their instincts and start their academic journey without waiting for perfection.

“Don’t wait until you’re ‘ready’ – you never will be. Just start. Surround yourself with people who believe in you, ask for help when you need it, and take it one chapter at a time,” she advises.

 

A role model for others

Dr Dippenaar hopes to inspire others, particularly young women, by showing that success in academia doesn’t follow a one-size-fits-all formula. “I hope my story demonstrates that with the right support, determination, and a willingness to carve your own path, anything is possible.”

The University of the Free State is proud to have played a role in Dippenaar’s academic journey, fostering her growth and expertise in business management. Her achievement is a testament to the institution’s commitment to academic excellence and innovation.

News Archive

UFS to honour two of Celtic’s founder members
2011-04-20

At the lunch were, from the left: Dr Choice Makhetha, Vice-Rector: External Relations (acting); Mr Norman Mathobisa and Mr Victor Mahatanya, both founder members of the Bloemfontein Celtic Soccer Club; and Mr Billy-Boy Ramahlele, Director: Community Engagement at the UFS.

In this year, the University of the Free State (UFS) will recognise two of the founder members of the Celtics Soccer Club in Bloemfontein, Mr Norman Mathobisa and Mr Victor Mahatanya, for establishing one of the greatest soccer clubs in South Africa.

 

The Vice-Rector: External Relations (acting) at the UFS, Dr Choice Makhetha, and Mr Billyboy Ramahlele, Director: Community Engagement, recently had lunch with Mr Mathobisa and Mr Mahatanya. “As the university has a partnership with the Celtics Soccer Club, we would like to make an effort to get to know the founder members of this club better,” said Dr Makhetha.

 

At the lunch meeting Mr Mathobisa and Mr Mahatanya shared their experiences and other involvement in sport in the Free State over their lifetime.

 

Mr Norman Mathebula also serves on the Mangaung University Community Partnership Project (MUCPP) Committee who is working in partnership with Standard Bank in giving loans to SMME businesses.

 

Mr Mickey Gordon, Head: Corporate Affairs, Institutional Advancement and Sport at the UFS, is managing the working relationship with the Celtics Soccer Club. In terms of this agreement the soccer club, will amongst others, support Kovsie soccer players with skills development and hey will also conduct talent scouting.

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept