The paper presents the authors' view of the modern educational system as a socio-cultural space of personality development. When discussing the development of socio-cultural competencies, it is important to understand that it is related to various types of personal activity, such as educational, professional, and everyday activities. The paper emphasizes the relevance of cultural development in the context of integrating the activity-based and socio-cultural approaches in education. The combination of these concepts is significant, given that culture is the result of human intellectual, creative, and other social activities in all their diversity, and without knowledge of their specifics, learning and professional activities are quite difficult. Modern society is a multicultural space that brings together various ethnic, age, and social groups, each of which is a «carrier» of certain cultural elements. By studying this multitude of cultures, students enrich their inner world and develop universal competencies, self-determination, and long-term life prospects. The modern education system provides students with numerous opportunities for cultural self-improvement at various stages, both within specific disciplines and in the overall educational process. Therefore, it is essential to identify the key characteristics of education as a space conducive to the comprehensive development of individuals.