Abstract:

The article presents the current problems in implementing international projects during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many international projects involving academic mobility tasks were suspended due to canceled flights during the pandemic and the suspension of direct international contacts. Waiting for a change in the epidemic situation cannot be too long, it may result in failure to complete the tasks and the necessity to return the funds granted.

The awareness of the threats to the projects is understood by two parties: by the institutions financing the project and by the applicants and project partners. Activities on the part of the project financing institution are related to the proposal to extend the planned duration of the project and its modernization aimed at forced virtualization of selected tasks using information and communication technologies or changing the scope of tasks in line with the project objectives. Activities on the part of project contractors (applicants and partners) are related to the search for solutions for the implementation of mobility-related tasks through their virtualization or replacement with new tasks.

Virtualization of tasks performed in international virtual teams is a new challenge of a psychological nature (building relationships in a multicultural team), technical (using equipment or research apparatus) and communication (proficiency in using IT tools). The process of managing such a team and controlling the progress of the project are more labor-intensive and full of problems.

The article presents a case study of forced virtualization in the "3D Digital Silk Road" project, financed by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) from the Academic International Partnerships program. The aim of the project is education in the field of 3D information technology and the implementation of scientific and research works in the field of digitization of the Silk Road monuments in Uzbekistan during scientific expeditions of employees of the Lublin University of Technology from Poland in cooperation with partners from Uzbekistan.

The epidemiological situation forced a change in the project schedule, virtualization of some tasks, extension of the project with new ones and extension of the period of its implementation without changing goals. The article provides detailed solutions to these problems.

Keywords:

International projects management, pandemic, uncertain times, remote work.