Archives & Special Collections

Villa Barton, © Geneva Graduate Institute

The Geneva Graduate Institute is the result of a merger between the Graduate Institute of International Studies (IUHEI), 1927-2007, and the Graduate Institute of Development Studies (IUED), 1977-2007 (formerly the Geneva Centre for African Executive Training, 1961, then the African Institute, 1962-1973, and finally the Institute of Development Studies, 1973-1977).

The history of the IUHEI goes back to the days of the League of Nations, when it was the first institution in the world devoted entirely to the study of international affairs.

From the outset, the African Institute posed development challenges in innovative terms for its time, thanks in particular to Pierre Bungener (Director of the African Institute) and Jacques Freymond (Director of the IUHEI). This clearly shows that the relationship between both institutions dates back to the 1960s.

The richness of the archives is a proof of the efforts made to develop and enhance the influence of the two institutes in their teaching and research missions.