Higher education for sustainable development in Japan: policy and progress.

The article offers information on a study on key developments and the role of governmental support in education for sustainable development (ESD) in higher education in Japan. Policy and practice, challenges and prospects for ESD in higher education in Japan and the significant drivers are reviewed in the study. Significance of the initiatives taken by organizations such as the Ministry of Education, Sports and Science and Technology and the Ministry of the Environment for the development of ESD in Japanese universities are discussed. It was found in the study that policies and funding by the government were useful but dependency on them is a challenge for the continuous development of ESD.