The Impact of Legacy Institutions

When looking at the iconic characters who led the world in the 20th and the 21st century, most of them came from legacy institutions. For instance, all the prime ministers of the United Kingdom presiding after world war 2 were Oxford graduates, all of them belonged to the elites of society, and most used their connections to further their careers. On the other hand, there are few who break the glass ceiling once in a generation. Using their incredible individualistic progression, they deny all the norms of society, rise above everyone with their charisma and overall talent, yet when further assessing their academics, we might see them being exceptional students, or them using the connections of their university.

The role of a university is not often limited to the syllabus it covers, rather a university is its teachers, its environment, and its alumni. All of which provide a wider outlook to the world. A good university will inspire a student to take risks, it will give him confidence that the world is up for grabs, and it will garner support using its vast connections with the outside world. So, how does a university influence matters outside its boundary? It does so with its teachers and its alumni. A highly regarded university professor is not only a teacher to his students, but also a teacher to the nation itself. In our own history, we know figures such as Professor Rehman Sobhan, Abdur Razzak, and Sirajul islam Khan who played an important role in shaping the liberal consciousness of society which built consensus for the independence of Bangladesh. Later on, their students went on to reshape the country. Dr. Mohammad Yunus is one such figure, being a professor himself, he revolutionized micro finance, and he was also a student of Dhaka University’s Economics department and the first year student of Professor Rehman Sobhan himself.?

The result one achieves in his studies also has its significance. Because in order to determine what kind of a life he chooses to pursue, the CGPA of his undergraduate degree will initially be the ambassador for the profession he chooses to enter. If he wants to be a teacher himself, he must show full proficiency in his chosen field, but the top GPA is not necessary for any other profession. In Bangladesh’s economy, most private jobs are limited to those who possess good connections, and have a moderate CGPA. The companies also sometimes have their own assessment metrics which require students to sit for exams, and the companies hardly look at the candidate’s grade.?

All in all, the result you achieve will only help you enter the doorstep. However, the connections a good university may provide is tantamount to the highest score imaginable. Therefore, a legacy institution is a must for you, if you want an ease of progression in your career, but it should not be your only measure of preparedness as there are other individual factors which also play a role in the way you will be judged in your interview session.