Every year, fewer and fewer students are sitting in public university auditoriums. According to INSTAT data, for the academic year 2022-2023, about 91 thousand students continue their studies in all higher education programs, or 75% of the total number of students, which amount to about 121 thousand, including the private system.

Compared to 2018, the number of students enrolled in public education has decreased by 19.7%, or about 22.3 thousand students less.

The gradual aging of the population that has reduced the young age group, together with the emigration of young people, are considered to be the main reasons that have influenced this trend. For example, the 15-24 age group decreased to 13% of the total at the end of 2022, from 16.1% in 2018.

District universities have seen the biggest drop in students. In five years, "Luigj Gurakuqi" Shkodër University has lost more than half of its students, recording only about 3.7 thousand registered in the academic year 2022/2023, from 8245 in 2016. (see chart: Students for each university in public education).

In "Aleksandër Xhuvani" Elbasan University, there were 37% fewer students in 2022, compared to five years ago, in "Fan S. Noli" Korçë and "Ismail Qemali" Vlorë, from about 30% less.

Only "Aleksandër Moisiu" Durrës University has resisted, having the same number of registered students compared to five years ago.

The University of Tirana, (Faculty of Law. Faculty of Economics. Faculty of Foreign Languages. Faculty of History and Philology) the largest in the country, with 22 thousand students, or 24% of the total number of registered students, has also scored a high contraction by 25% of the number of students in the last 5 years.

There was not much interest in the Faculty of Medicine either, where in the academic year 2022/2023 there were 5,842 registered, or 18% less than in 2018.

Of the large universities, the only one with growth, albeit slight, is the Polytechnic, with an expansion of 1.4%.

The university that has aroused the most interest has been that of Sports, the only one with a 29.3% increase in the number of students in the last five years, although it has a low number (1853).

About 30 thousand other students, or 25% of the total, are enrolled in private universities. Unlike the public, the private system is still growing, albeit starting from a small base. Compared to 2018, almost 5 thousand students have been added to the private sector, or 18% more.

The latest INSTAT data for private universities are for the 2021-2022 academic year, where the largest was Albanian University (3849), followed by the European University of Tirana (3500), the Mediterranean University of Albania (3089), Epoka University ( 2730), Our Lady of the Good Council University (2550).

(Source: Monitor)