Intellectual Capital in a Bilingual Project between Canada and Peru

Abstract

Thompson Rivers University (TRU), Kamloops, Canada, and Universidad Norbert Wiener (UNW), Lima, Peru, work together in a bilingual project about data mining, managing activities and resources with the help of structures in intellectual capital. Otherwise, without the use of these structures, it would have been almost impossible to have a continuous contact among the persons in the project. The change of authorities at UNW, was not an obstacle to the continuity of the project. Results of this collaboration are achieved in the way of knowledge sharing. In year 1, a team of professionals in health sciences traveled from Canada to Peru, mainly to give courses. In year 2, an expert in computer science came, together with the professionals in health; this new expert gave conferences in data mining in English language. In year 3, the expert in computer science gave a main conference and conducted workshops. Year 4 is for joint research and publishing of findings. Three results are: a) conferences and workshops in health sciences and information technology are given in Peru by Canadian experts; b) research papers are produced and published in international congresses and indexed journals; and c) a bilingual experience is given to students in Peru, since conferences and workshops are given in English to Spanish speaking students. A progressive increase in intellectual capital is measured every year during the four-year project. The research question for this paper will be: what is the contribution of intellectual capital to the management of international bilingual projects? The four-year experience, will give the answer to this research question. Outcomes already obtained show that good practices in intellectual capital are contributing to the success of this four-year project.