The Eastern European Institute was founded in 1957 and later became the IICEE (Interfaculty Institute for Central and Eastern Europe).
The IICEE, with the personnel of the director’s chair in addition to contributions of other institute members (all chairs involved), coordinates, organizes and initiates the East European competences and interests of the University of Fribourg.
The activities of this interfaculty institution (faculty of economics & social sciences, philosophy and theology) include: research, continuing education and provision of expertise services in the East European domain; organisation of a range of offers in this field; contacts with institutions engaged in Eastern Europe; suggestions and coordination of initiatives and special events in the range of Eastern and East Central Europe, above all sponsorship of conventions with Eastern European universities, organisation of the yearly Eastern European Day at the University of Fribourg, and conception of graduate school programs.