About Us - Pactful

Pactful is an education innovation program dedicated to the vision that every student has the opportunity to become a social good innovator using design thinking.

We empower students and educators worldwide to engage in problem-solving and creative thinking, with a focus on increasing participation by young women and students from underrepresented groups.

Pactful provides a dynamic curriculum that guides students through the design thinking process—Understand, Ideate, and Prototype—encouraging them to develop impactful solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. As the driving force behind the annual Jacobs Teen Innovation Challenge, Pactful inspires teens to address real-world challenges while building essential 21st-century skills.

Developed by the Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education at the University of San Diego, Pactful is made possible through the generous support of donors and partners who share our commitment to equity, innovation, and social good. (image of university logo)

Pactful Supporters

Pactful is powered by the Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education, a nonprofit organization at the University of San Diego. We are grateful for the generous support from individuals and organizations who share our vision of empowering the next generation of social good innovators.

Thanks to this support, Pactful inspires students worldwide to solve real-world problems using design thinking. Yet, to achieve our mission of providing every student the opportunity to become a changemaker—regardless of background—we have more to do.

Join us in empowering youth to create solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and build a better world.

We believe teens can use design thinking to develop impactful solutions that build a better world.

Our Values

Innovation and Creativity

We inspire high-quality, joyful learning experiences that foster creativity and transformative solutions. By encouraging innovative thinking, we empower young changemakers to develop impactful ideas that drive meaningful social advancement.

Social Impact

We are committed to addressing social needs and creating positive change. Grounded in local, regional, and global perspectives, our initiatives promote equity, inclusivity, and community well-being, empowering youth to make a difference locally and globally.

Empathy

We prioritize human-centered design by deeply understanding users' needs and experiences. Valuing cultural wealth and authentic self-expression, we create inclusive spaces that respect diverse perspectives and encourage empathy-driven innovation.

Teamwork

We believe in the power of collective growth through collaboration. By working together with our communities and fostering teamwork among students, educators, and partners, we co-create impactful solutions that inspire social good.

Empowerment and Leadership

We enable youth to become leaders and changemakers through transformative learning experiences. By fostering personal and professional growth, creativity, and leadership, we empower students to shape their communities and the world.

Pactful is built on a dynamic framework that empowers students to become social good innovators through the design thinking process. This framework guides teams through three core phases—Understand, Ideate, and Prototype—enabling them to creatively tackle local and global challenges while aligning their solutions with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Understand Phase

In the Understand phase, students explore complex social issues, conduct research, and engage in empathy-building activities to deeply grasp the needs and perspectives of those impacted. By investigating root causes and connecting with community stakeholders, they build a comprehensive understanding of the problem space. This phase encourages curiosity, critical thinking, and empathy—laying the foundation for human-centered solutions.

Ideate Phase

During the Ideate phase, students collaborate to generate innovative ideas aimed at addressing the identified needs. They engage in brainstorming sessions, challenge assumptions, and explore multiple perspectives to push the boundaries of conventional thinking. By fostering a culture of creativity and open-mindedness, this phase encourages bold and imaginative solutions that have the potential to make a positive impact.

Prototype Phase

In the Prototype phase, students bring their ideas to life through rapid prototyping and iterative testing. They develop tangible representations of their solutions, gather user feedback, and refine their prototypes to enhance effectiveness and usability. This hands-on approach cultivates resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving skills as students learn from failure and continuously improve their designs.

Connection to the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Pactful’s framework is purposefully aligned with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, empowering students to contribute to global issues such as poverty, health, education, and environmental sustainability. By connecting their projects to these global objectives, students realize the broader impact of their innovations and their role as change-makers in an interconnected world.

A Comprehensive Learning Experience

Pactful’s framework is designed to foster an innovator’s mindset by integrating critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity throughout the learning journey. Through engaging activities, real-world problem-solving, and reflective practices, students not only build impactful solutions but also develop essential skills for the future.

This structured yet flexible framework makes Pactful an effective tool for educators and students worldwide, enabling them to approach challenges with empathy, creativity, and confidence. As a product of the Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education at the University of San Diego, Pactful reflects the Institute’s commitment to equity, innovation, and meaningful change in education.

Our Pactful Partners

Pactful is sincerely grateful for our dedicated community of supporters and individual donors, whose generosity fuels our mission to empower the next generation of changemakers.

We believe that every teen should have the opportunity to develop skills to innovative solutions to real-world challenges. Thanks to the invaluable support of our partners listed below, we are able to inspire and equip young minds through the Pactful platform and Jacob Teen Innovation Challenge and beyond.

Thank you for helping us make a difference!