IFFE is a non-profit registered association that has been promoting the engagement of university teachers and students at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam since 1995. The institute supports projects of further education and training, research and development in the national and international arena. The aim is to regularly network studies, science and practice through the exchange of information and concrete cooperation in the projects. Challenges of professional practice are researched and solutions to problems are developed. IFFE has been supporting the commitment of university activists since 1999 through a decentralised association management. At IFFE, the university bodies (general meeting, board of directors and advisory board) do not determine the content of the association's work, but rather the project leaders.

IFFE provides the projects with a legal and organisational framework, assists with the drafting of contracts, with tax and insurance issues, provides a website, account management, bookkeeping, personnel administration, etc. and IFFE ensures compliance with the non-profit rules. IFFE performs its statutory tasks in agreement with the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam on the basis of a cooperation agreement that has been in place since december 2000. For this purpose, the university management sends a member of the advisory board to the board of directors of IFFE.