The Institute of Education was founded in 1902 with the aim of providing high-quality training for teachers. A graduate college of the University of London, IOE now sees 1,000 graduates attend their PGCE courses every year.

The Institute also hosts a comprehensive programme of lectures from experts in their respective fields. Topics are broad and varied: recent subjects have included "Skate Perception: self-representation, identity, and visual style in a youth subculture" and "What has changed under Gordon Brown?".