This document provides information about Ivan Padilla's participation in the Oxford Tradition summer program. It includes summaries of the International Relations and Law and the Economy courses Ivan took, as well as comments from the instructors praising Ivan's active participation, thoughtful written work, and ability to apply concepts to real-world examples. The program offered over 100 hours of classroom instruction along with cultural excursions and guest lectures on various topics. Ivan received an A in International Relations and an A+ in Law and the Economy.

1.
August 2014
To Whom It May Concern:
The Oxford Tradition is an intensive month-long academic summer program for students completing
10th
, 11th
and 12th
grades. Under its auspices, over 400 motivated participants from high schools all over
the United States, Canada, and multiple foreign countries live and study at one of two Oxford colleges:
Pembroke or Oriel. This program is now in its 30th
year.
Our curriculum is taught by an outstanding faculty of teachers and scholars drawn from Oxford,
Cambridge, Harvard, the London School of Economics, and other top institutions. In addition to daily
classroom activities, such as discussions, experiments, workshops and rehearsals, Oxford Tradition
students attend talks by eminent guest speakers, enjoy musical and theatrical performances, and explore
local museums, galleries, and historical sites. Depending on their Major course, students take a final
exam, submit a portfolio, publish written work, or participate in a theatrical production or art exhibition.
Over the course of the summer, students experience over 100 in-class hours, plus countless hours more of
extramural learning and cultural achievement. The level of academic performance achieved by the
students is truly extraordinary. We are very pleased to observe that many of our former students carry
this standard forward in their college careers at some of the best universities in North America and
Europe.
If you have any questions or would like more information about the nature of the program, the work
students have done on it, or the colleges at which former students are currently enrolled, please do not
hesitate to call or email our New York office.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. James G. Basker
President, Oxbridge Academic Programs
Richard Gilder Professor of Literary History, Barnard College, Columbia University

2. Corpus Christi and Pembroke Colleges, Oxford University
6 July - 2 August, 2014
Director, Michael McKinley
Founder, Dr. James G. Basker
Major Course Title:
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Faculty:
Nicholas Chan, BSc University of Wales, Aberystwyth, MPhil University of Oxford, DPhil University of Oxford
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This class introduced students to key concepts and theories of International Relations: realism, neoliberal
institutionalism and constructivism. Students also explored the changing meaning of sovereignty, beginning with the
Peace of Westphalia, towards the post-Cold War doctrine of non-interference and more recently in the idea of the
responsibility to protect. Other key concepts discussed included the liberal democratic peace, and the analogy of two-
level games. Over the duration of the course, students also drew extensively on Mark Mazower's "Governing the
World", a history of the different meanings that 'internationalism' has been ascribed over the past two centuries.
Students examined these broader ideas with reference to contemporary world politics, ranging from Iran's nuclear
program to the threat of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, institution-building in the UN system, and the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Students engaged in a Model United Nations simulation examining the current crisis in Ukraine, representing members
of the Security Council responding both to the downing of MH17 and the wider conflict in eastern Ukraine. Parallels
with world politics drawing from popular culture, namely the fictional world of Harry Potter, and the prospective threat
of a zombie attack, were used to help clarify and provide insight into understanding the structures and dynamics that
underpin global politics. Finally, small-group debates provided opportunities to engage more deeply in the arguments
surrounding some contemporary issues: China's territorial ambitions, social media in world politics, and US drone policy.
REQUIREMENTS:
Students were assessed on the basis of their in-class participation; written assignments, in the form of commentaries on
current affairs and IR concepts, as well as a comparison of fictional and real worlds; performance in a Model United
Nations Security Council simulation and small-team group debates; and two essays, one on themes from the Governing
the World class text, and one on key concepts and theories of International Relations.
CLASS GUEST SPEAKERS:
Adam Ramsay on Scottish independence; Ambassador David Mulford on a life of diplomacy and action in global
politics and economics; Marcos Medina on global journalism; Kerrie Thornhill on post-conflice peacebuilding in West
Africa.
PROGRAM GUEST LECTURERS:
"Introduction to Oxford" at the Oxford Union; General Sir Michael Rose, "Fighting Insurgency Wars"; Helen Kidd, poet;
Keith Sharman, 60 Minutes Producer, Prof. John Armour, "Law and the Financial Crisis"; Prof. James Basker, "How
Poetry Helped End Slavery"; Nick Hutchison, "Acting Shakespeare"; Kwok Lee, Oxfam Field Worker; James Harkin,
"Reporting Syria"; NYPD Officer Adam Allen "Policing in the US and UK"; Sir Andrew Motion, "Readings with the
former Poet Laureate"; Anna Alekseyeva, "Life in the Soviet Union"; Dr. Gillian Brooks, "On Media"; Andrew
Rosenheim, novelist; Dr. Joanna Bagniewska, zoologist; Dr. Nigel Struckwick, Egyptologist; Dr. Luke Berryman, pianist;
Dr. Graham Banes, zoologist; Marion Vannier, legal theorist; Dr. Lizzie Burns, artist and scientist: Daniel Udy, artist and
activist
FIELD TRIPS:
The Ashmolean Museum; St. Mary the Virgin church (Iffley village); The Divinity School (Bodleian Library); Punting on
the Cherwell; University College Oxford.
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES:
Oxford Quest; International Education Forum; Dance Nights; World Cup viewing; Broughton Castle field trip; Port
Meadow Picnic; Karaoke Night; University Challenge Quiz; OxTrad Talent Show; London field trip; Charity Fashion
Show; Holi Festival; Ceilidh; Sports Day; Plays and concerts; Yoga; Running Club; Zumba; A cappella; OxTrad
"Beyond Wonderland" Ball.

3. Corpus Christi and Pembroke Colleges, Oxford University
6 July - 2 August, 2014
Director, Michael McKinley
Founder, Dr. James G. Basker
Ivan Padilla
STUDENT NAME
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
MAJOR
COMMENTS:
Ivan was a pleasure to have in this class. He was one of the more active participants during in-class discussions,
whose contributions – raising questions that were often on others' minds – were useful to helping to clarify issues
and concepts under discussion, as well as suggesting other examples to illustrate the material being presented. His
written work was of a good standard, frequently drawing in useful examples to back up his arguments, especially
in his commentaries linking contemporary affairs with IR themes and concepts.
His performance during the Model United Nations Security Council simulation, jointly representing Nigeria, was
thoughtful and his interventions during the formal debate were productive in attempting to move negotiations on the
resolution forward. I wish Ivan all the very best, and am confident that he will be able to take full advantage of
future opportunities to further pursue the study of international relations.
Director, Michael McKinley
Dr. James G. Basker, Founder
A
Grade
Nicholas Chan, Instructor

4. Corpus Christi and Pembroke Colleges, Oxford University
6 July - 2 August, 2014
Director, Michael McKinley
Founder, Dr. James G. Basker
Minor Course Title:
LAW AND THE ECONOMY
Faculty:
Tom Hashimoto, BA Boston University, MSc London School of Economics, LLM Erasmus University Hamburg;BA
Boston University, MSc London School of Economics, LLM University of Hamburg, DPhil (candidate) at the University
of Oxford
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Based on the textbook 'Law & Economics' by Cooter and Ulen, we examined selected scholarly works by prominent
Nobel laureates such as F. A. von Hayek, R. Coase, J. Nash, G. Akerlof, E. Ostrom and O. Williamson, as well as those
works and theories by Pareto, Keynes, Hardin, Shavell and Calabresi. In particular we focused on transaction cost
economics alongside with risks, incentives and externalities associated with general institutional environments.
Frequent reference was given to European integration and sovereign debt crisis in order to anchor our knowledge within
the contemporary contexts.
REQUIREMENTS:
In-class contact hours amounted to 22.5 hours. A half of these classes was in the lecture format and the other half was
in the seminar format, the latter implying class discussions and other activities such as contract writing and business
consulting (hosted by 'Entrepreneurship' minor). In-class written assignments were open-book thereby students were
expected to apply their knowledge in broad and complex real-life situations. There was one voluntary fieldwork
assignment in which students analysed the risks, incentives and externalities associated with businesses on High
Street, Oxford.
CLASS GUEST SPEAKERS:
Mr. John Tress (PWC, co-hosted by 'Pop Culture as Knowledge' and 'Politics and Economics' minors)
PROGRAM GUEST LECTURERS:
"Introduction to Oxford" at the Oxford Union; General Sir Michael Rose, "Fighting Insurgency Wars"; Helen Kidd, poet;
Keith Sharman, 60 Minutes Producer, Prof. John Armour, "Law and the Financial Crisis"; Prof. James Basker, "How
Poetry Helped End Slavery"; Nick Hutchison, "Acting Shakespeare"; Kwok Lee, Oxfam Field Worker; James Harkin,
"Reporting Syria"; NYPD Officer Adam Allen "Policing in the US and UK"; Sir Andrew Motion, "Readings with the
former Poet Laureate"; Anna Alekseyeva, "Life in the Soviet Union"; Dr. Gillian Brooks, "On Media"; Andrew
Rosenheim, novelist; Dr. Joanna Bagniewska, zoologist; Dr. Nigel Struckwick, Egyptologist; Dr. Luke Berryman, pianist;
Dr. Graham Banes, zoologist; Marion Vannier, legal theorist; Dr. Lizzie Burns, artist and scientist: Daniel Udy, artist and
activist
FIELD TRIPS:
Not applicable
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES:
Oxford Quest; International Education Forum; Dance Nights; World Cup viewing; Broughton Castle field trip; Port
Meadow Picnic; Karaoke Night; University Challenge Quiz; OxTrad Talent Show; London field trip; Charity Fashion
Show; Holi Festival; Ceilidh; Sports Day; Plays and concerts; Yoga; Running Club; Zumba; A cappella; OxTrad
"Beyond Wonderland" Ball.

5. Corpus Christi and Pembroke Colleges, Oxford University
6 July - 2 August, 2014
Director, Michael McKinley
Founder, Dr. James G. Basker
Ivan Padilla
STUDENT NAME
LAW AND THE ECONOMY
MINOR
COMMENTS:
With a selection of topics this course investigated how law can and should influence economy and how economic
methods can help understanding laws and regulations. In particular we focused on transaction cost economics
alongside risks, incentives and externalities associated with general institutional environments. Additionally we have
utilised Game Theory in analysing various legal topics such as contract law, torts and financial regulations.
Ivan is an honest and challenging student. He understands well the Socratic method, that one must know what one
does not know. He does not hesitate to ask about things he does not understand, and this honesty and courage
provide him a great advantage in his intellectual endeavours. I encourage him to keep up the good work.
Congratulations, Ivan! Best of luck.
Director, Michael McKinley
Dr. James G. Basker, Founder
A+
Grade
Tom Hashimoto, Instructor