The aim of the Center for the Education and the Study of Social and Ecological Foundation of the Mind (SEFM) is: 1) constructing an intensive research base which provides a rich environment for doctoral students to conduct cutting edge research, and 2) creating an environment that attracts students and researchers and producing those can play an active role in the world.

Japanese Ministry of Education awarded those outstanding three bases in Hokkaido University a total of 385,437 yen (About $4 billion). Our Center was ranked “S,” which is the highest awarded evaluation, making the Center the only institute dealing with human sciences to receive an “S” ranking.

The division of Human Sciences in Graduate School of Letters at Hokkaido University has been functioning to provide a forefront research base and systematic education for graduate students in human science field with various grant supported programs such as:

• 21st Century Center of Excellence (COE), "Center for the Study of Cultural and Ecological Foundations of the 　　Mind (2002-2006, Dr. Toshio Yamasgihi as the leader)"
• Global COE "Center for the Sociality of Mind (2007-2011, Dr. Tatsuya Kameda as the leader)"
• Initiative for attractive education of Graduate School Program, “Center for the Education of an integrated 　　understanding of human (2005-2006, Dr. Makiko Naka as the leader)”
• Improving Graduate School Education Program, “Empowerment Center of an empirical research in Humanities 　　(2007-2009, Dr. Makiko Naka as the leader)”
• Center of Systematic Dispatching Young Researchers for Abroad (2010-2012, Dr. Yoshihide Sakurai as the 　　leader).

To reinforce research and education, the Center for Experimental Research in Social Sciences (CERSS) constituting the Creative Research Institution (CRIS) in Hokkaido University provides logistic support such as workshops, summer programs, supports for attending international conferences, uniform management of publications, career advices, etc.