The development of Hainan Free Trade Port has created policy incentives and growth opportunities for higher education opening-up. Cross-border collaborative education programs empowered by institutional characteristics have become a key strategy for private universities to overcome resource constraints and achieve differentiated development. Against the backdrop of Hainans education opening-up policies and through practical case studies of local private universities, this paper defines the core principles of cross-border collaborative education driven by institutional characteristics. It analyzes the practical foundations and existing challenges faced by private universities in implementing such programs, and proposes a cross-border collaborative education model featuring "institutional foundation, resource integration, innovative approaches, and multi-party collaboration." Supporting implementation strategies are also developed, aiming to provide theoretical references and practical frameworks for private universities in Hainan to deepen cross-border collaboration and support the Free Trade Port initiative through institutional characteristics.