The Institute of Public Administration (IPA) works continuously to deepen the level of cooperation with similar prestigious institutions across Europe, providing the opportunity to exchange experiences and build collective knowledge of the best European practices in the field of training for public administration, working towards a common, high standard in the EU.

 IPA works in a close partnership with the Council of Ministers of Bulgaria. IPA is part of a network formed by directors and presidents of central training schools and institutes of public administration in the Member States of the European Union (DISPA).

The Institute of Public Administration signed a cooperation agreement with the National Human Resources Development Institute of the Republic of Korea. The National Human Resources Development Institute of the Republic of Korea (NHI Republic of Korea) is a government structure directly subordinated to the Ministry of Personnel Management, with the main functions of developing programs and conducting training for newly appointed civil servants, senior executives, and general directors, as well as conducting research and studies and training foreign government officials in the Republic of Korea.

The scope of the agreement includes the exchange of good practices in public sector leadership development and education, the development of joint training programs for civil servants, academic research, and human resource development in public administration.

To this end, IPA has signed intergovernmental agreements with institutes across Europe, including the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) in Maastricht, the Netherlands to share useful experience, research and best practices developed by the EIPA. In 2014, IPA, in partnership with EIPA, established a national center for training and consultation on the introduction of the European model of quality management (CAF - European common framework for self-assessment) in central and municipal administrations. IPA facilitates the participation of Bulgarian best practices in EIPAs European Public Sector Awards for innovations in field of public policy and administration.

IPA is also cooperating with Institut national du service public (INSP) - successor of the National School of Public Administration of France (ENA). On March 28th 2014, the Institute of Public Administration (IPA) and the French National School of Administration (ENA) signed an official Memorandum of Cooperation at the Council of Ministers. It aims to develop inter-institutional partnership between the two countries, including the joint training of officials from the Bulgarian administration, exchanging of experience and organizing internships for Bulgarian civil servants in public institutions and agencies in France.

NISPAcee is an international think-thank based in Bratislava, Slovakia. In May 2019 IPA re-joined NISPAcee with the goal of establishing and further developing its cooperation with public administration and public policy institutions in region of Central and Eastern Europe.

IPA also has a successful cooperation with the European School of Administration (EUSA) – since 2015 Bulgaria participates in the Erasmus for Public Administration programme. This 10 days long study programme is composed of conferences, training seminars, visits to the institutions in Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg and includes 2½ days of "job shadowing" in an institution of the participant's choice. The aim of this programme is to help young national civil servants dealing with EU affairs to learn more about the EU decision-making processes and the way the institutions function.

Together with the Lech Kaczynski National School of Public Administration (KSAP), IPA implemented an international training and exchange program for civil servants from the partner countries under the Synergy project. The joint initiatives of the two institutions are aimed at developing programs to enhance the competencies and knowledge of civil servants, as well as developing the overall capacity of the civil service in their respective countries.

IPA and the National Academy for Public Administration of the Republic of Serbia have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation aimed at implementing activities contributing to the improvement of the overall process and professional development of public administration. The activities in the agreement include preparation and implementation of joint programs, strengthening of the organizational and professional capacities of the parties, including implementation of joint projects, exchange of printed materials and preparation of publications of interest to both parties.

The cooperation agreement signed between the IPA and the National Institute of Administration (INA) of Romania, is aimed at exchanging information and best practices in the preparation and implementation of professional development programs for civil servants, as well as the implementation of joint activities related to the improvement of processes in public administration. The agreement includes the implementation of partnership initiatives in research, publications and projects.

The Memorandum of Cooperation between the IPA and the National Centre of Public Administration and Local Government (EKDDA) is aimed at partnership and assistance in the development and implementation of innovations in the training of public servants, the implementation of joint initiatives, research and projects.