5 Questions for Dina Saâda, Assistant at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
Learn about the academic and professional journey of Dina Saâda, a dual alumna of the Master’s in History program at Paris 1, in five questions and answers.
1. What is your background?
I started with a preparatory year at the Jules-Ferry High School in Paris, followed by a bachelor’s degree in History at Paris 1. I went on to earn a research master’s degree in the History of Africa, the Maghreb, and the Contemporary Middle East. I chose this program because of its focus on the contemporary Arab world and modern Islam. It was specifically this program at Paris 1 that aligned with what I wanted to do next. Even though at that stage of my studies I didn’t have a very clear vision of my future career, I knew I wanted to work in those fields.
At the same time, I became involved in student organizations at Paris 1, notably the “EMA” (Students of the Arab World – Sorbonne) association, to develop communication skills and gain experience in event management—particularly conference organization—as well as to start building a professional network.
As for my professional experience, I completed my first internship from August to December 2020 at the Defense Mission at the French Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during my first year of the CIAMO master’s program. I was supposed to start a second internship in the political section in Kuwait, but in 2021, the airports were closed due to the pandemic. So I pivoted to an internship at the Permanent Delegation of France to UNESCO as a press and communications officer. Then I was contacted to help develop the consular unit of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) for the Quai d’Orsay as part of an internship. It was a global conference that France was hosting in Marseille. I was supposed to stay there for several months, but I only stayed for a month because, at the same time, I was contacted to take a position at the Institut Français in Paris as a project manager. That was my first “real” job. I stayed there for nine months.
I then moved on to Preva net, an organization focused on preventing digital risks and radicalization. I missed the security field and really wanted to put my analytical skills to use in my work. I spent six months there.
I was then called back by UNESCO’s French Public Relations Office for a four-month temporary assignment, again as a press and communications officer.
After that, I was looking for a job until September 2023. However, at the same time, I took on consulting assignments for a former client of the Institut Français. They needed help developing and expanding their renewable energy business in Africa, particularly in mapping and analyzing the environment.
Finally, in September 2023, I joined the Quai d’Orsay as a resource assistant in the North Africa and Middle East section, where I currently work.
During my studies, I also held a few part-time jobs to make ends meet. I worked as a program coordinator at the town hall in Beaumont-sur-Oise, where I served as an educator for a so-called “vulnerable” population. This experience proved very beneficial for the roles I took on later, particularly regarding radicalization. Training and raising awareness among this group on these topics was very useful to me. Each time, I was driven by the desire to share some of my experience, to enlighten them, and to motivate them to continue their studies.
Like many young people, I also worked at McDonald’s. And I took on temporary assignments, receptionist jobs, and other odd jobs.
2. What memories do you have of Paris 1?
Those were years I absolutely loved. As part of the university community and as the child of immigrants, I was deeply moved by the university’s prestige; that embodiment of knowledge and excellence left a lasting impression on me.
On a more lighthearted note, it’s the vanilla cappuccino! You can only find it at Paris 1! Every time I go back to campus, I stop by the coffee machine to enjoy one.
There’s also that feeling of standing before these walls steeped in history; you think of all those years of learning and sharing that the university has witnessed. And now there’s also that touch of nostalgia that mingles with that coffee break.
· 3. What is your current position?
I am a resource assistant in the North Africa and Middle East Division.
I took on a position that isn’t really within my area of expertise, but it allows me to gain a better understanding of the diplomatic world and the central administration, and will enable me to take competitive exams in the future. I’ve been able to discover what working at headquarters is really like—it’s very different from a post abroad in the diplomatic network. And, at the same time, I’m currently taking the Quai d’Orsay competitive exams.
· 4. How did you find your jobs?
I found all my positions, internships, and fixed-term contracts through networking. HR would reach out to me when my assignments went well and they saw that I was truly committed to working and getting out in the field. For example, for my current position, it was HR who reached out to me.
For my first internship, a classmate who was working in the administrative office heard that they were looking for someone quickly. I applied right away.
I found everything through networking, with the exception of Preva.net, which I found more “traditionally” through a LinkedIn ad.
· 5. And finally, a more personal question: what’s your favorite book?
I’m thinking of the book *Dreams of Women: A Childhood in the Harem* by Fatima Mernissi, a Moroccan sociologist and feminist.
It’s a book I often give to friends and colleagues, and one I love to share. It was given to me during my internship in Saudi Arabia, so it holds special meaning for me. I found it to be a deeply meaningful story. It recounts the history and childhood of women during the era of the sultanate. There’s this question of what borders are—real, spatial, and invisible ones. It’s a book that blends the magical, humor, tragedy, and beauty; I highly recommend it!
Thank you to Dina for answering the Alumni questions!
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