Within the Gozo Diocese, a thirst for a formal institution which offers professional formation was long felt, especially one focusing on quality formation to Diocesan pastoral collaborators. In view of this, tentative collaborations to set up the Institute for Pastoral Ministry (IPM) commenced in March 2016. The founding members of the Institute were Fr Joseph Farrugia, as the first IPM Director, Mr Marvik Galea, and Ms Frances Galea, the first Administrative Secretary. 

Together, they set in motion the process of obtaining accredited recognition for the planned courses.  The process was long and arduous, requiring consultations with several individuals and local agencies. In the summer of 2016, the first draft of an Internal Quality Assurance policy was drawn up. Several revisions later, in January 2019, the NCFHE granted the Diocese of Gozo the license to operate the Institute for Pastoral Ministry. Given that each institution within NCFHE requires to be either registered as an NGO or with MFSA, the subsequent step was the establishment of a Statute and the setting up of the IPM Board of Governors.

The Institute for Pastoral Ministry was officially established within the Gozo Diocese on October 1^st 2019 following a decree by HE Mons. Mario Grech. Thus forth, the first course offered by this institute was presented with the title of VET Award in Safeguarding of Minors, held in collaboration with Safeguarding of Minors, Gozo.