Stip registers nine new PhDs, total now 279 over 125 years
Nine newly promoted PhDs bring the town’s total to 279; 167 of those degrees were earned over the last 25 years, while 112 were completed in the previous 100 years.
With the addition of nine new PhDs this year, Stip's community of doctorate holders now totals 279 people — 167 of whom earned their degrees in the past 25 years, while only 112 completed doctorates in the preceding 100 years.
Across 125 years since the emergence of higher education and research activity among people born in or educated in Stip, scholars from the city have produced doctoral work spanning numerous disciplines. The annual promotions of new PhDs have become a fixture of the Mitrovden meetings, established 25 years ago to mark the city’s Liberation Day on 8 November; the ceremonies traditionally take place in the Goce Delchev National and University Library in Stip.
“All their works are deposited in the Local History department, and issued as needed when readers show interest for them. There are collections with works of doctors of science from before and after the Second World War, as well as works by the newest doctors of science,” says Todor Dzhidrov, who continues the meticulous registry started by Delcho Vezenkovski.
From early pioneers to recent generations
Researchers point to early doctorate holders from Stip such as Ljubomir Miletić in philology, who studied in Balkan centres at a time when higher education often continued outside the city. The post–World War II roster of doctorates includes figures like Emanuel Chuchkov (geography) and General Mihajlo Apostolski (military sciences); the list also contains graduates who finished secondary school in Stip, such as Jordan Pop Jordanov, later known internationally in physics.
Later generations brought prominent names who combined scholarly work with national roles: poet Aco Šopov (literature), politician and lawyer Kiro Gligorov (legal and economic research), economist Aleksandar Grličkov and Nikola Kljusev, who became the first prime minister of independent Macedonia.
The contemporary wave includes scientists with international impact — cardiothoracic surgeon Zhan Mitrev, medical researcher Metodi Chepreganov, and historian-archaeologist Kosta Balabanov. The research output of the founders and early staff of Goce Delchev University is also held in the library: Sashko (Saša) Mitrev, the university’s first rector, and professors Blazhe Boev, Todor Serafimovski and the current rector Dejan Mirakovski, who, although not born in Stip, spent most of their careers in the city.
Recent trends show a rise in women completing doctorates: in 2024/25 seven women earned PhDs. Last year’s list included Sashko Nikolov, Gabriela Dimova, Elena Lichkova and Blagica Krsteska. This year’s promoted cohort of nine includes Ljubica Prosheva-Pelivanova and Ljupka Arsovski (dental sciences); Dijana Miceva, Paulina Apostolova and Dino Karpicharov (pharmaceutical sciences); Ana Paneva and Goce Kocevski (law); and Ana Taseva-Vasileva and Vasko Demjanski (medical sciences).
Photo: SDK.MK)
