Ecosystemic Dimensions of Integrated Policies and Practices for Personal Development Support in Bulgaria

This article presents the results of a study and critical review of integrated policies and best practices for supporting personal development in Bulgaria through the principles of the ecosystem paradigm in social research. The central research question involves identifying the ecosystemic dimensions of current policies and practices, evaluated using a criterion scale of ecosystemic measures, such as ecosystemic values and priorities, ecosystemic cycles, ecosystemic levels, networks and chains, and socio-ecological footprint. The methodology integrates the analysis of strategic, normative, and institutional documents and reports with a case study of three best practices for regional support of various target groups. The results highlight areas of significant ecosystemic progress regarding the strategic conceptualization and normative framework of goals, values, priorities, and approaches. Simultaneously, at the level of the intersectoral (external) ecosystem of integrated personal development support, there are still serious normative and applied weaknesses and obstacles that limit their impact, scope, and sustainability.