Sayed Al-Jaafari: A Journalist’s Perspective on Global Conflict and Cooperation
As a journalist from Egypt with a background in mass communication and policy research, Sayed Al-Jaafari came to NPSIA with a clear purpose: to bring his voice and region into the heart of global policy discussions. After immigrating to Canada he was determined to find a graduate program that would allow him to bridge his media background with international policy. He found that opportunity at NPSIA.
“What caught my attention was how the curriculum allowed me to focus on the Middle East,” he explains. “That’s where my expertise lies, and I wanted to contribute my voice and perspective to the academic conversation.”
At NPSIA, Sayed focused all his research on Middle Eastern affairs. His commentary and insights—developed over years of professional work—found new life in the classroom. Still, the transition was not without its challenges. “English is my second language, and that was difficult at first,” he says. “But my love for writing helped me push through.”
One of the most formative experiences came during his first semester, in the “Conflict Management” course taught by Professor Said Yaqub Ibrahimi. A fellow journalist, immigrant, and English-as-a-second-language speaker, Professor Ibrahimi became both a mentor and source of inspiration. “He encouraged me to speak up,” Sayed says. “He reminded me that I bring valuable perspectives that are often missing in the classroom. That gave me the confidence to participate more—and to really grow as a student.”
Sayed’s time at NPSIA was also marked by a commitment to real-world relevance. In Professor Jeremy Wildeman’s “Peacebuilding and Reconstruction” course, he was encouraged to research the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. His paper, titled The International Community’s Role in Alleviating the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza and Preventing the Expansion of the Conflict in the Middle East, reflected his belief that academic research should inform action, not just analysis. “Academia and media both have a role to play in pushing international policymakers to respond to urgent crises,” he says.
As he looks ahead, Sayed is continuing to use his journalistic platform to elevate the conversations that matter most. For him, NPSIA wasn’t just an academic program—it was a place where his experience, voice, and passion were not only welcomed but amplified.