KU Visual Studies dept faces drop in student intake

Experts blame lack of government funding and rising competition from private institutions

KARACHI:

Once considered one of the most sought-after departments at the University of Karachi, the Department of Visual Studies is now facing an alarming decline in student interest and government support. Established nearly three decades ago, the department - which once received 1,200 to 1,500 applications annually - now attracts fewer than 300 candidates, a number that university officials describe as "deeply concerning."

According to official sources, this year's entrance test saw participation from just over 250 students. The department's declining enrollment has raised critical questions about the future of performing and industrial arts education in Pakistan, particularly in Karachi.

To assess whether the trend reflects a broader national pattern, Express contacted Prof. Murtaza Jafri, Vice Chancellor of the National College of Arts (NCA), who said that interest in art and design studies remains strong in Lahore:

"At NCA, we have seen a steady increase in applications this year compared to the past. So, it's not true that students' interest in arts is fading."

Experts, however, attribute the sharp decline at Karachi University to the federal and provincial governments' persistent neglect of arts and design education. They point out that for 27 years, neither the Higher Education Commission (HEC) nor the Sindh government has provided adequate funding for the essential facilities - such as laboratories, workstations, equipment, and furniture - required to sustain the department. Most of the limited progress has been achieved through the university's own resources.

The Department of Visual Studies was founded in 1998 during the tenure of former Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Zafar Zaidi, at a time when no university in Karachi offered formal education in performing or visual arts.

The department became a breath of fresh air for aspiring artists, offering Bachelor's programmes in Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Film, Architecture, Textile Design, Industrial Design, and Islamic Art, with 120 seats available each year.

Officials noted that the rising cost of admission forms has also played a role in deterring applicants. The fee, once Rs1,000, has gradually increased to Rs5,000, discouraging many students from low-income backgrounds. Previously, even those with limited understanding of the field would apply and learn through exposure, but now only serious candidates with prior awareness participate.

The department also faces stiff competition from newly established private universities offering similar programmes, including Habib University, Iqra University, Indus University, Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, and SZABIST, while in the public sector, the Shaheed Allah Buksh Soomro University of Art, Design and Heritage has also emerged as a competitor.

Academics and experts warn that without immediate intervention and financial support from both the Sindh government and the HEC, Karachi University's Department of Visual Studies - the city's only public-sector institution offering comprehensive art and design education - risks losing its legacy and relevance in the field it once pioneered.