Unveiling the Secret World of France's Spy Training Ground
Imagine a place where the lines between academia and espionage blur, where the students are a mix of young enthusiasts and seasoned spies, and the curriculum is a delicate dance between politics, crime, and technology. Welcome to Sciences Po Saint-Germain, a unique university on the outskirts of Paris, where the ordinary and the extraordinary collide.
A Campus with a Secret Identity
The campus itself is an enigma. With its somber, early 20th-century architecture, surrounded by bustling yet unassuming streets, and guarded by imposing metal gates, it exudes an air of discretion. It's as if the buildings themselves are keeping secrets.
But it's not just the physical space that's intriguing; it's the people within. Here, traditional students in their early twenties rub shoulders with members of France's secret services, usually in their prime years, aged between 35 and 50.
The Diploma: A Bridge Between Worlds
The university offers a one-of-a-kind diploma, the Diplôme sur le Renseignement et les Menaces Globales, or the Diploma of Intelligence and Global Threats. This program, developed in collaboration with the Academie du Renseignement, the training arm of the French secret services, is a response to a critical need.
A Decade of Evolution
Following the tragic terrorist attacks in Paris in 2015, the French government embarked on a significant recruitment drive within its intelligence agencies. They turned to Sciences Po, a prestigious French university, to create a course that would not only train potential new spies but also provide ongoing training for existing agents.
And the interest didn't stop there. Large French companies, especially those in the defense and aerospace sectors, as well as luxury goods firms, were quick to recognize the value of this training. They wanted their security staff to benefit from the course and were eager to hire the graduates, who were well-equipped to handle the growing threats of cybersecurity, espionage, and sabotage.
The Course: A Comprehensive Overview
The diploma consists of 120 hours of classroom instruction spread over four months. For external students, the spies, and those on placement from businesses, the cost is approximately €5,000. The course focuses on identifying threats and devising strategies to track and overcome them. Key topics include the economics of organized crime, Islamic jihadism, business intelligence gathering, and political violence.
To gain access to one of the classes, I had to undergo a vetting process by the French security services. The lesson I attended was centered around the intriguing theme of "intelligence and over-reliance on technology."
Meet the Students: A Diverse Range of Backgrounds
Among the students I spoke to was a man in his forties who goes by the name Roger. He described himself as an investment banker providing consultancy services across West Africa. He joined the course to offer risk assessments to his clients.
Prof. Xavier Crettiez, who teaches political radicalization, noted a significant expansion in the French secret services in recent years. He estimates that there are now around 20,000 agents in what he calls the "inner circle." This circle includes the DGSE, which handles matters abroad, akin to the UK's MI6 or the US's CIA, and the DGSI, which focuses on internal threats, similar to the UK's MI5 or the US's FBI.
But it's not solely about terrorism. Prof. Crettiez highlights Tracfin, an intelligence agency specializing in money laundering, which is grappling with a surge in mafia activity, particularly in southern France, including corruption in both public and private sectors due to the lucrative illegal drug trade.
The course also features lectures by a DGSE official formerly based in Moscow, a former French ambassador to Libya, and a senior official from Tracfin. Additionally, the head of security at the French energy giant EDF leads one of the modules.
The Private Sector's Growing Interest
The private sector's enthusiasm for this diploma is only increasing. Major businesses, especially in defense and aerospace, but also French luxury brands, are keen to hire these students to tackle the relentless challenges of cybersecurity, espionage, and sabotage.
Recent graduates have found employment with prominent companies like the French mobile operator Orange, the aerospace and defense giant Thales, and LVHM, which owns a diverse portfolio of brands, including Louis Vuitton, Dior, and champagne houses Dom Perignon and Krug.
This year's class comprises 28 students, including six spies. You can spot them easily during class breaks; they huddle together, separate from the younger students, and they're not exactly thrilled when approached.
One of the spies, while keeping his role confidential, described the course as a fast-track route to promotion, allowing agents to transition from office work to field operations. Another spy appreciated the fresh ideas that the academic environment provided.
Among the younger students, Alexandre Hubert, 21, expressed a desire to gain a deeper understanding of the looming economic war between Europe and China. He emphasized that the spy's job is about analyzing risk and devising countermeasures, not about the glamorized James Bond-style adventures.
Another student, Valentine Guillot, also 21, was inspired by the popular French TV spy drama Le Bureau. She said, "Coming here to discover this unknown world, apart from what I saw on TV, has been a remarkable opportunity, and now I am very eager to join the security services."
A Shift in Gender Dynamics
Interestingly, nearly half of the students in the class are women, which one of the lecturers, Sebastien-Yves Laurent, a specialist in technology and spying, attributes to a relatively recent development. He notes that women's interest in intelligence gathering is a new phenomenon, driven by a desire to contribute to a better world.
"And if there's one common thread among these young students, it's their patriotism, which is a new trend compared to 20 years ago,"
Applying to the Course: A Selective Process
If you're considering applying, French citizenship is a must, although dual citizens may be accepted. However, Prof. Crettiez warns that they are cautious about certain applications. He mentions receiving applications from very attractive Israeli and Russian women with impressive CVs, which are immediately rejected.
In a recent group photo of the class, the spies were easily identifiable - they had their backs to the camera.
While all the students and professional spies I met were fit and athletic, Prof. Crettiez is quick to dispel the myth of James Bond-like adventures. He emphasizes that most jobs within the French intelligence agencies are desk-bound, with few new recruits making it to the field.
This unique university, with its blend of traditional students and spies, offers a fascinating insight into the world of intelligence and global threats. It's a place where the ordinary and the extraordinary coexist, and where the lines between academia and espionage are deliberately blurred.
