In 2003, HICEC was established as one of the COE (Centers of Excellence) with the support of the 21st Century Center of Excellence (COE) Program by the Ministry of Education, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan in the field of international environmental cooperation and has conducted a five-year education and research program from 2003 to 2007. With the experiences and achievements of the COE program, a new program proposed by HICEC was selected again as one of the five programs of the MEXT Special Coordination Funds for Promoting Science and Technology, FY2008 on international capacity building in environmental cooperation in Asia and Africa, entitled Global Environmental Leaders Education Program for Designing a Low Carbon Society (GELs Program) in 2008. The program was officially launched in September 2008, and it aims to establish a global center for training environmental leaders capable of identifying problems faced by developing world and designing strategic solutions on a national or local level from multiple and international perspective. This program offers a variety of educational programs including degree based program for IDEC students, visiting fellowship program for young post-doctoral researchers and short courses for practical professionals in coordination with various global partner organizations and universities