DIANA Project Officially Launched with Kick-Off Meeting in Kazakhstan
The DIANA project – Empowering Women through the Development and Implementation of Rural Tourism Entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan – was officially launched with a Kick-Off Meeting held on 2 and 3 February 2026 at Sh. Ualikhanov Kokshetau University, in Kokshetau, Kazakhstan.
DIANA aims to empower rural women by strengthening their entrepreneurial skills in the field of rural tourism, with a strong focus on digital literacy, innovation and sustainable development. By promoting close cooperation between higher education institutions, local communities and women entrepreneurs, the project contributes to inclusive economic growth, gender equality and the development of the green economy in Central Asia.
Researchers from Universidade Portucalense and members of REMIT, Marília Durão, Makhabbat Ramazanova and Medéia Veríssimo, participated in the Kick-Off Meeting. Within the project framework, the UPT team is responsible for coordinating Work Package 4 (WP4) – Capacity Building of Staff, which focuses on strengthening the skills and competencies of academic and administrative staff involved in rural tourism entrepreneurship education.
The two-day meeting brought together representatives from all partner institutions to discuss the overall project structure, including the work plan, work packages, roles and responsibilities, expected deliverables and budgetary aspects. The first day was dedicated to project coordination and partner contributions, while the second day focused on engagement with rural women entrepreneurs, fostering networking, exchange of experiences and dialogue between academia and local stakeholders. The programme also included sessions on dissemination strategies and an online meeting with the Erasmus+ Project Officer. The Kick-Off Meeting represented an important milestone for the DIANA project, laying the foundations for effective collaboration and guiding the successful implementation of project activities over the coming months.
DIANA Project Officially Launched with Kick-Off Meeting in Kazakhstan