Transnational Higher Education (TNHE) in Shaanxi Province faces challenges such as limited engagement with Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries, disciplinary imbalances, and policy ambiguities, which hinder its effectiveness. This paper aims to examine TNHE’s current status of Shaanxi Province and propose strategies for better alignment with national and regional educational goals under the BRI framework. Using a qualitative approach, it analyses policy documents and secondary data from the Ministry of Education’s TNHE supervision platform, guided by the Policy-Implementation-Outcome (PIO) framework. Findings indicate that TNHE partnerships in Shaanxi are primarily with Western countries, with limited collaboration in BRI regions. Additionally, engineering disciplines dominate TNHE programmes, restricting their contribution to regional economic needs. Policy gaps, resource constraints, and a lack of international faculty further challenge TNHE development. Strengthening partnerships with BRI countries, expanding disciplinary diversity, and optimising policy implementation are crucial for enhancing TNHE’s role in supporting regional and national development.
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