Decline in students in MV: Economy sounds the alarm for the future

Decline in students in MV: Economy sounds the alarm for the future

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is facing a worrying decline in student numbers, which is worrying the local economy. According to current surveys, only 36,026 students were enrolled at universities in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in autumn 2024, which corresponds to a decline of 2.8 percent compared to the previous year. Compared to the 39,131 students in fall 2020, this is a worrying trend. The universities of applied sciences are particularly affected, while the universities in Rostock and Greifswald are experiencing a slight decline of 0.9 percent, as [Bildungsspiegel](https://www.bildungsspiegel.de/news/studium-fernstudium-neue-lern Formen/7454-rueckgang-der-studierendenzahlen-in-mecklenburg-vorpommern-satz-sich-fort/) notes.

The economy is alarmed because bright minds are urgently needed for research and education. Susan Bach from the Association of Business Associations emphasizes that better marketing of universities is necessary to emphasize the advantages of small size and the close connections to business. This could also help to educate more parents about the good opportunities for their children in the region.

Economic growth and challenges for universities

Despite the decline in student numbers, the economy in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania showed growth of 1.3 percent in 2024, while the nationwide GDP fell by 0.2 percent. This could be an indicator that the region has the potential to create healthy jobs - but only if there are enough qualified specialists available. There were 5,622 first-year students in the 2023 academic year, a decrease of 3.5 percent compared to the previous year. Of these first-year students, 42.6 percent come from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania itself.

The largest decline continues to affect the technical colleges in Neubrandenburg, Wismar and Stralsund, which together have 898 fewer students. Meanwhile, the majority of graduates in the higher education system remains stable, with 6,711 successfully completed courses in the 2023 exam year and an increase of 1.0 percent compared to the previous year. The challenges are therefore clear: more students must be recruited in order to be able to meet the needs of the regional economy in the long term.

A look at the studies and enrollments

In recent years, courses in law, economics and social sciences have become particularly popular, with 35.6 percent of students enrolled in this area. Engineering sciences follow with 19.7 percent and human medicine/health sciences with 16.5 percent. While the decline in enrollment represents a tough challenge, the stable graduate numbers show that universities are still able to offer high-quality education.

With these rapidly growing challenges, it is now important that the universities in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania become attractive for both local students and students from other federal states. According to the experts, the region can only hope for a positive trend in student numbers again by specifically addressing parents and potential students.