Regional trends of depopulation due to lower rate of fertility and mechanical depopulation by migration are characteristic of the region and Macedonian society. In the last 30 years there has been a decrease of newly born children in Republic of Macedonia, from 31,751 in 1994 to 19,986 newly born in 2019. The mentioned indicators greatly influence the present and future number of potential students. In Stip the number of newborn in 2019 is 398. In this paper focus is on student population in the University Goce Delcev - Stip in the last two academic years. In the coming period, universities and the competent institutions can change the future of every child, if they commit the same level of enthusiasm and resources they have made available to other sectors such as health. Also, this paper refers to three topics: student population in the University Goce Delcev Shtip; population in Shtip according to newborns; opportunities and challenges. To function in tomorrow's society, students need to develop the skill of being able to make reflective assessments. Through this skill they will form the lasting foundation of careers and meaningful lives in a world in which artificial intelligence and global competition are becoming increasingly prevalent. In fact, fostering this ability requires a student-centered approach to higher education.

Keywords : Higher Education, Student Population, University Goce Delcev, Economic Growth Field: Social Sciences