Cultivating New Business Talents for International Inland Port: An Innovative Education Model at Huaihua University in China

International dry ports have become essential inland trade hubs, linking to global markets and playing a key role in China’s dual circulation strategy and initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative, the China-Europe Railway Express, and the Western Land-Sea New Corridor. With their rapid development, an urgent need is to cultivate interdisciplinary talents with innovative thinking and a global perspective. Using Huaihua University as a case example, this study investigates the talent needs of the Huaihua International Dry Port, identifying challenges in business education and proposing professional clusters tailored to international dry ports. It introduces a talent cultivation model integrating the Outcome-Based Education (OBE) framework with industry-education collaboration. It incorporates a work-study integration model and a dual education system to enhance practical competencies. The findings underscore the importance of strengthening industry-academic partnerships to develop application-oriented, interdisciplinary business professionals who can contribute to the international dry port sector. This research provides a structured approach to addressing the talent gap in international trade and logistics education, offering insights for broader educational reforms.