Sailing with Design Thinking as Our North Star

Empower your students to design real-world solutions for a better world.

Set sail with the 2026 Jacobs Teen Innovation Challenge (JTIC26) — a free global program where students ages 13–18 use design thinking to address real-world challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Whether you teach STEM, humanities, or a cross-disciplinary program, the JTIC offers a flexible structure, a supportive community, and the chance to showcase your students’ creativity on an international stage.

For educators, mentors, and parents guiding students ages 13–18.

It takes 5 minutes to register.

About the Challenge

What is the JTIC?

The Jacobs Teen Innovation Challenge (JTIC) is an annual global experience powered by Pactful, a free digital learning platform and innovation curriculum from the Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education at the University of San Diego.

Through hands-on learning, students:

Explore local and global issues through the lens of the UN SDGs
Develop empathy and creativity as they ideate, prototype, and test solutions
Share their innovations with a global audience of judges and peers

It’s project-based learning made easy — purposeful, flexible, and designed to fit your school’s unique schedule.

Aligned with core academic standards, the JTIC supports STEM, STEAM, and social studies classrooms, as well as advisory or after-school programs. Educators can easily integrate it into existing lesson plans or project-based learning units.

Want to see how it fits your class? View our Standards Alignment Guide.

How it Works

Three simple steps to chart your course:

Getting started is simple — every educator can guide students through the challenge at their own pace.

1. Register by November 20

Sign up as an educator, adult mentor, parent, or after-school program leader.
Anyone over 18 who guides students through the process can register — one adult registration covers your student team(s).

2. Guide Your Students' Innovation Journey

Use Pactful’s free design thinking curriculum to guide students ages 13–18 at your own pace. Each phase includes short lessons, examples, and templates that make implementation simple and flexible.

3. Submit by April 18, 2026

Teams create a short video pitch sharing their solution. Judges provide feedback, and finalists receive recognition, prizes, and global visibility!

🧭 Chart Your Course: Key Dates for JTIC26

Register by November 20, 2025

Final Submissions due April 18, 2026

Upcoming Educator Huddle Dates (tentative):

November 14, 2025
December 12, 2025
January 16, 2026
February 20, 2026
March 13, 2026
April 10, 2026

(Zoom registration links and reminders are sent to registered educators.)

Pitch Clinics: Registered educators can sign up for one-on-one coaching sessions for students and educators to help teams feel confident before their final submission

Get inspired by students and educators from around the world who took part in last year’s challenge. See the Challenge in Action:

Support and Community

This is more than a competition — it’s a community of changemakers.

Educators who participate in the JTIC gain:

Professional Recognition – Earn a certificate for your classroom or after-school program.

Student Motivation – Watch students connect learning to purpose as they design solutions that matter.

School Visibility – Celebrate your students’ success through social media spotlights and digital showcases.

Community Support – Join as an educator and get access to exclusive Educator Huddles (English + Spanish) — open spaces to connect, share progress, and explore topics educators choose together, from classroom implementation to student storytelling.

"The JTIC helped my students see themselves as innovators. It's the best thing we did all year." -Educator, Colombia

When you join JTIC26, you’re never navigating alone. Once registered, you’ll receive invitations to our live Educator Huddles, access to limited-space Pitch Clinics for student teams, and connection to our private educator community for ongoing support.

This is your voyage — and we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

Join JTIC26 and sail with a worldwide network of educators guiding students to make real change.

Awards & Student Impact

Celebrating Creativity and Impact

Each year, educators and students from across the globe are celebrated for their creativity, collaboration, and the real-world impact of their ideas.

Categories include:

Best Overall Social Innovation
Most Local Impact Award
Most Global Impact Award
Most Creative Innovation Award
Advances Social Justice and Equity Award
Photonics Innovation Award
Most Impactful Messaging Award
Founder’s Award

Final details and prizes will be shared soon — stay tuned!

Explore last year’s winning ideas for inspiration.

Students, are you ready to make an impact?

Ask your teacher, parent, or mentor to register your team! The JTIC is open to all students ages 13–18 who want to make the world a better place.