Article By Damian Holmes – Editor of World Landscape Architecture
Over the past few years, there has been anecdotal evidence that student numbers are dropping. Although in the USA, it appears from the LAAB annual reports that numbers have increased between 2016 and 2025 (5254 vs 6372) [1], with the increase occurring in undergraduate enrollments. It is hard to determine the annual number of students worldwide, as many programs and nations do not publish student numbers. However, based on conversations with those involved in programs and photos of graduate classes over the years, it seems there may have been an ongoing decline in student numbers.
Before we start determining how to attract more students, we need to understand the broader issues behind the possible decline in numbers.
BROADER ISSUES
Shift in program delivery
Many programs over the last two decades have shifted from pure landscape architecture programs (specialise in landscape from day 1) to general design with specialisation. In general design programs, students study general design principles and then choose among architecture, interiors, industrial design, urban design/planning, and landscape architecture. Landscape architecture can lose out to other programs as a profession; we are more understated, have less (social) media presence, and smaller professional organisations, which means we are less visible to students, leading them to choose another design discipline.
The Threat of AI
In the past few years, the narrative of artificial intelligence (AI) as a job killer has become more prevalent in media. Also, some architects have stated that there is less need for junior positions, which feels like self-inflicted harm, but it is a prevailing narrative.
The doom and gloom
If you have ever wandered into the landscape or architecture tags/pages on X or Reddit, you will see seemingly never-ending threads of doom about working conditions and pay at design firms. Some of these threads may be valid, but the prevailing theme is of how bad it is as a career rather than how rewarding it is. This is also due to the algorithms seemingly rewarding these threads with uplift and positioning them in front of more people to drive more engagement, creating a circular cycle or echo chamber.
The promised land
Following on from the doom and gloom of various platforms, there is the other end of the spectrum of social media that portrays a promised land of passive income, fast cars and endless holidays, which is hard to ignore when you’re in your mid to late teens, when you are faced with an ongoing narrative of unaffordable housing and increasing cost of living.
Academic hiring expectations and pressures
Many universities require that lecturers and professors have a master’s or PhD to teach and research in landscape programs. The reality is that the available talent pool is shrinking year on year due to retirements, as well as the unwillingness of people to take on four years of further study immediately after finishing an undergraduate degree. Alternatively, leave a full-time salaried job in the industry to study for four years, then join academia at similar pay. Therefore, many programs have a majority of academics with minimal or no practice experience.
Also, university academic requirements have increased in recent years to include goals (KPIs) for the number of papers published and presented, along with other performance targets related to grades and awards.
Trying to save the world
From conversations with people who have left landscape programs over the past decade as undergrads and postgraduates, the common theme that came back was that the programs focused too much on theory and trying to save the world through social and economic interventions rather than focusing on landscape architecture as the core focus of the program and its practical application in the world.
Widening Gap between programs and the profession
The gap between programs and the profession has seemingly widened over the past decade, with the profession sometimes raising concerns about the quality and competence of graduate students. Also, practices often lack the capacity to allow senior practitioners to teach or attend programs.
Increase in immigration requirements
Many countries do not have landscape programs and have to travel abroad, which means that some programs rely heavily on international students for funding. However, this is being thwarted by recent immigration policy changes in countries such as Australia, where the visa fees for students and graduates have increased by 200-300%.
Drop in industry needs
Over the past five years, many countries have faced economic slowdowns in the property or infrastructure sectors (especially China), leading to layoffs and reductions in private practice, which have impacted students’ interest in the industry, even though economic conditions may be better when they graduate three to four years later.
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
Whilst facing these issues and narratives, how do we attract more students to study landscape architecture? As landscape architects, we are optimists at heart, and there are possible initiatives that we can undertake with some landscape professional organisations (LPOs) that have already started and we can build upon.
Improve the narrative
Through social media and press coverage, we need to change the narrative about landscape architecture to present it as a rewarding career and to emphasise that AI is a tool for the profession rather than the end of the profession. Many firms and organisations have also taken significant steps in recent times to improve conditions through flexible working, parental leave, self-study days, extended holiday periods, and paid LPO memberships; these should be promoted to students.
Invest in programs, not buildings
Industry (Individuals and LPOs) should advocate for universities to invest in programs rather than buildings. Over the past decade, universities have focused on facilities to attract students rather than on programs. Universities need to invest in people and reduce the hiring requirements for academic staff to encourage more practitioners and other landscape architects to participate in programs. Also allow more time for teaching, which will improve the connection between universities and the profession, as reflected in improved graduate quality.
Assist in developing new programs
New professional associations are being founded or recognised in South Asia, Africa and other regions. There is a need for established programmes and organisations to assist in developing new undergraduate and graduate programmes at existing institutions. With these partnerships, many students will be able to study in their home countries rather than face the potentially high costs of immigration and associated program costs.
Provide Practical Experience
Many programs include outreach and summer studios to allow students to engage with sites and communities; however, there is also a need for programs to provide a practical placement component as part of the program, including working in practice, non-profit, industry body or a government organisation to allow students to find out what they like or dislike and then focus on learning more about a particular field or specialty during their remaining time in the program.
Advocate for better immigration policy
As developing a program involves long-term commitment, in the short term there is a need to advocate for better immigration policies (and lower fees) for students in the design industry to ensure that the global industry can continue to grow and fulfil the greater need for landscape architects worldwide.
Promote pathways for second careers
Many landscape architects come to the profession through different pathways; many former graphic designers, engineers, and architects have changed careers to pursue a second career in landscape architecture. We need to promote landscape architecture as a possible second career, as it is rare for people to stay in one career in this century.
Create more access
Landscape architecture is often a niche of a niche industry and often can feel closed off to outsiders. There is a need for practices and organisations to participate in more public forums, such as design weeks, open days, eco-days, shows, and festivals, to reach people outside the profession.
Be There In Person
More importantly, there is a need to show up at physical events; universities and practices need to support initiatives either financially or simply by turning up. There seems to be a growing apathy among universities, industry, and practices towards participating in events unless they can gain exposure or pursue projects.
Showcase the possibilities
Although landscape architecture is often known for professional practice, there are many possibilities after completing a landscape architecture program to work not only in professional practice but also in government, non-profit, and other groups. Landscape architecture is a generalist profession that provides you with the skills and knowledge on a broad range of topics.
Show up online
Landscape architecture is more than static images of finished projects; there is a need for universities, academics, practices, and professionals to show up online and share the process, the interaction, the people, and the wins and failures of being a landscape architect. More and more, pushback against AI graphics and visuals has grown on social media over the past months; landscape architects should seize this opportunity to showcase landscape architecture and its authenticity as a profession, whether in practice, government, or academia.
Landscape architecture programs are the learning ground for future landscape architects, and the industry (practice, government, suppliers) needs to support programs in the best way it can to ensure the industry continues to fulfil the world’s needs.
[1] LAAB 2016 Annual Report and 2025 Annual Report – https://www.asla.org/become-a-la/laab/news-and-action
Article By Damian Holmes – Editor of World Landscape Architecture
Cover Image Credit: StockSnap on Pixabay
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