Empowering Women through the Development and Implementation of Entrepreneurship in Rural Tourism in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan / DIANA

Project title: Empowering Women through the Development and Implementation of Entrepreneurship in Rural Tourism in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan / DIANA

Project registration number: 101237740 ERASMUS-EDU-2025-CBHE-STRAND-1

Project duration: November 01, 2025 – October 30, 2028

Brief description of the DIANA project. By developing entrepreneurial skills of self-employed women in rural areas and improving their digital literacy, the DIANA project contributes to the Green Economy by modernizing the economies of Central Asian countries and making them more competitive and innovative. Sustainable growth and job creation are ensured through closer links between education and business in line with the needs of the private sector in the agro-ecotourism industry.

Official project website: https://samix.uz/

Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/diana_erasmus

The coordinator and grant holder of the project “DIANA – Empowering Women through the Development and Implementation of Entrepreneurship in Rural Tourism in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan” is Sh. Ualikhanov Kokshetau University. The project implementation is planned for 2025–2028.

Project consortium members

1. Universidade Portucalense Infante D. Henrique (Portugal)
2. Wismar University of Applied Sciences (Germany)
3. M. Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University (Kazakhstan)
4. D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University (Kazakhstan)
5. Kazakh Academy of Sport and Tourism (Kazakhstan)
6. International Agricultural University (Uzbekistan)
7. “SILKROAD” International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage (Uzbekistan) https://univ-silkroad.uz
8. Nukus State Technical University (Uzbekistan)
9. Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Akmola Region (Kazakhstan)
10. SABR Republican Center for Socio-Economic Development (Uzbekistan)

Roles and responsibilities of the DIANA project working group members from M. Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University

Project implementation

• On February 01–04, 2026, a Kick-off Meeting was held at Sh. Ualikhanov Kokshetau University.
• On May 04–08, 2026, Universidade Portucalense Infante D. Henrique (Portugal) organized an online training on the topic: “Dynamics of Rural Tourism Development and Its Impact on the Local Economy”.
• On May 19, 2026, a monitoring meeting within the framework of the Erasmus+ DIANA project entitled “Empowering Women through the Development and Implementation of Entrepreneurship in Rural Tourism in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan” was held at the Kazakh Academy of Sport and Tourism in a hybrid format (online and offline).

Participation in the DIANA Erasmus+ On-Site Training Programme

From 29 June to 4 July 2026, Banu Doskenova, Head of the Department of Geography and Ecology, Candidate of Biological Sciences and Coordinator of the DIANA Erasmus+ project “Empowering Women through the Development and Implementation of Rural Tourism Entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan”, and Zhanaiym Nurkan, lecturer, participated in the Training of Trainers (ToT1) on-site training programme at Portucalense University (UPT) in Porto, Portugal.

The ToT1 programme focused on “Dynamics of Rural Tourism & Teaching Methodologies” and aimed to deepen participants’ knowledge of rural tourism, its local economic impact, rural entrepreneurship, and the practical application of modern teaching methodologies.

The training focused on rural tourism systems and value chains, community-based development, real-life cases of sustainable and inclusive tourism initiatives, and interaction with local stakeholders and practitioners. Particular attention was given to approaches aimed at empowering women and strengthening their opportunities in rural tourism entrepreneurship.

The programme included a series of practical workshops. Participants explored business opportunities for women entrepreneurs in rural areas, strategic communication, networking and partnership building for rural tourism entrepreneurs, as well as the application of Project-Based Learning (PBL) and Design Thinking in entrepreneurship education.

An important part of the programme was a study visit to Peneda-Gerês National Park. Participants explored local rural tourism businesses and initiatives, including accommodation, coworking and co-living models, as well as nature-based and wellness-oriented tourism activities.

During the final stage of the training, participants worked collaboratively on project ideas, presented their group outputs, reflected on the study visit and provided feedback on the training programme.

Participation in the DIANA Erasmus+ training programme provided an opportunity to exchange international experience in rural tourism, entrepreneurship education and women’s empowerment. The knowledge, methodologies and practical approaches gained during the training can contribute to further development of educational activities and initiatives aimed at sustainable rural development.

The project is co-funded by the European Union. However, the views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.