The project proposal brings together doctoral programmes from three professional fields - 1. 2. Pedagogy, 2. 2. History and Archaeology and 2. 4. Religion and Theology. The project proposal foresees all three possible activities - support for a project doctorate, establishment of doctoral schools/schools and upgrading of the teaching staff. Two universities are involved in the project proposal - Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski and Burgas Free University. The specific topics on which the PhD students will be enrolled will address the needs of the South East region of Bulgaria. The project envisages the enrolment of PhD students in full-time studies, who, thanks to the improvement of their qualifications, will be able to create and implement innovative solutions to overcome the overlapping social and, consequently, economic problems, such as that of depopulation. The personnel, who have received their expert qualification after participation in the project, can find their realization in the public administration, in cultural, museum, religious, educational, and social institutions, in various non-governmental organizations.