First in South Asia. History achieved.

Aitchison College secured the PMIEF Best Application of Project Management Award at the international stage of the JA Worldwide Company of the Year Program 2026, following its success at the national round.

For the national competition, the students established Next Papers, a company providing fully customised academic resources for students and teachers across Cambridge and other examination boards. Following their national victory, the team — Sirmed Mehmood, Hussain Nawaz, Taha Irfan, and Mohammad bin Ishaq, under the mentorship of Ms. Nida — earned a fully funded opportunity to represent Pakistan at the international competition in Seoul, South Korea.

At the international stage, Next Papers was presented alongside leading student enterprises representing thirteen other countries. The competition provided a global platform for participants to demonstrate the strength of their business models, operational strategies, innovation, and execution.

The PMIEF Best Application of Project Management Award recognised the team’s effective application of project management principles throughout the development and execution of Next Papers. The achievement represents a significant international accomplishment for Aitchison College and establishes a notable milestone for South Asian participation in the programme.