The U.S. Mission in Turkey has brought Geoffrey Watson, an international education and innovation expert, to Ankara and Istanbul as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance cooperation between the U.S. and Turkey in higher education and educational technology. This collaborative initiative aims to strengthen ties based on shared interests such as innovation and academic excellence.
Geoffrey Watson, currently serving as the President and Chief Business Officer of the Minerva Project, a San Francisco-based startup focused on transforming higher education, is leading these efforts. Watson's previous experience at Guild Education involved assisting working adults in accessing education and skill-building programs at major American companies. With a track record of launching and advising numerous education technology startups, he actively contributes to the transformation of private and public educational institutions to meet the evolving needs of the 21st-century workforce.
During his visit to Istanbul, Watson delivered a keynote speech titled "Transforming Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence" at the Educational Technology Summit, Turkey's largest gathering of education-focused entrepreneurs, administrators, and journalists. The summit's theme for the year was "Collective Intelligence." Watson also engaged with the Ministry of National Education and held discussions with high-level representatives from universities in Ankara and Istanbul. This included a roundtable discussion at the U.S. Embassy and visits to Koc University, Middle East Technical University, and Bahçeşehir University, promoting international advancement and cooperation in innovative education.
The U.S. Speaker Program, an initiative by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, facilitates the engagement of U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide with foreign audiences. U.S. speakers, representing diverse fields and expertise, are leaders in their respective sectors and communities.
