The Department of Gerontology & Dementia Studies co-operates very closely with the International Institute on Ageing, United Nations - Malta (INIA). The UN Economic and Social Council, by its resolution 1987/1, recommended to the UN Secretary-General the establishment of the International Institute on Ageing. On 9 October 1987, the United Nations signed an agreement with the Government of Malta to establish the International Institute on Ageing as an autonomous body under the auspices of the United Nations. The Institute was inaugurated on 15 April 1988, by the then UN Secretary-General, H.E. Mr Javier Perez de Cuellar.

In keeping with its training strategy aimed at developing better qualified and better trained persons, INIA holds several training programmes in Malta on an annual basis, supported financially by the UNFPA. Up till the end of 2018, INIA has trained over 2,500 candidates from 150 countries. In addition, 129 ‘in situ' training programmes were held in 30 low-income countries and in countries with economies-in-transition, training over 4,000 participants. The training programmes held in Malta are oriented towards persons coming from developing countries who hold positions as policy-makers, planners, programme executives, educators, professionals and para-professionals who work, or intend to work, in the field of ageing or with older persons.

The Department also collaborates very closely with a number of University Institutes and Centres in the field of Ageing, throughout the world. Its international reputation in collaborative engagements can be witnessed by the high annual number of applications from prospective foreign candidates. Finally, the Department also collaborates with the Department of Active Ageing and Community Care, St Vincent de Paul Long-Term Care Facility, and CareMalta which host the majority of students’ placements.