Sara Dadnahal is a Committee Officer at the Swedish Parliament

Interview from 2025

Where do you work today and what do you do? What does a normal work day/week look like?

Today, I work in the Swedish Parliamentary Administration as a committee officer at the Committee on Justice.

During a normal working week, I prepare for the committee meetings, which are usually held on Thursdays. As an official, I write, among other things, the draft decisions that are debated and decided on in the Chamber, known as committee reports. These reports usually deal with legislative proposals from the government or motions from Members of Parliament. I also write statements on various EU documents and opinions for other committees. It is mainly these matters that are discussed during committee meetings. I am in regular contact with the Government Offices on EU matters within the committee's subject area. As an administrator, I am responsible for the EU work in the committee. The committees are tasked with following and taking a position on EU issues within their subject areas and, in short, I'm the one who assists the committee in this work.

What was your first job after graduation?

My first job after my master's degree was at the Parliamentary Investigation Service (RUT), where I also did my internship as part of my master's degree. It was a short employment of 6 months, but it gave me a foot in door of the administration which was then to my advantage when I applied for the job as an officer at the Justice Committee.

How has your degree in political science from Uppsala University helped you in your career?

In addition to subject-specific knowledge, my degree has above all helped me to develop my methodological and analytical skills. It has also taught me to work with a large amount of information and to process text. It's a lot of learning by doing, this business of producing a good text. Then there's the classic answer - meeting deadlines, but it's true!

Why did you choose the Master's Programme in Political Science at Uppsala University?

I was very satisfied with the Bachelor's Programme in Political Sciences at Uppsala University and felt that I wanted to continue with my master at UU as well. I thought the bachelor wheld a high standard and I liked the teachers. I simply wanted more of what I had gotten a taste of, but at a higher level.

What is your best memory from your time at Uppsala University?

Wow, I really have so many good memories! It was a very formative time, on several levels. Above all, I found friends for life.

What advice would you give to current and future students of political science?

Don't think too much! Don't think too much about what possible choices might mean in the future. Do what you enjoy! I spent a lot of time thinking about this and that, but now I've realized that it always works out in the end.