This study examines the evolving internationalization of higher education in the post-pandemic era, focusing on China’s role as a key driver of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). By analyzing questionnaire data and national policies, it investigates motivations and challenges for BRI countries’ students pursuing higher vocational education in Jiangsu. Four primary motivators were identified: educational quality, economic incentives, policy support, and cross-cultural adaptability. Recurrent epidemics, language barriers, and cultural differences emerged as major challenges. The research proposes three strategic recommendations: optimizing enrollment policies, strengthening teaching management systems, and enhancing cross-cultural support mechanisms. These findings aim to provide actionable insights for advancing the internationalization of China’s higher vocational education sector, particularly in BRI contexts.