The Education for Sustainable Development Research Center (ESDRC) was chosen as part of the Open Research Center Project of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in 2007, concerning Developing Research and Educational Programmes on ESD. Its research on SD is interdisciplinary in nature, studying various issues in the environment, economy and society, attracting local and international public interest. Because these issues have been addressed independently in different disciplines however, we have yet to see the comprehensive reorientation of education, the development of education systems, capacity-building for educators and trainers, and networking of researchers and practitioners, towards sustainable development. The ESDRC approaches these issues from the perspective of environmental education and development education based on humanities and social studies, and aims at becoming the hub of an ESD research network in the Asia-Pacific region.
