From Zero to Final Draft: AI toolkit for academic Success

ACTIVITY REPORT

Objective(s) of the Activity:

1. To familiarise students with AI-assisted tools that support academic writing, research structuring, and scholarly communication.
2. To strengthen skills in critical thinking, drafting, editing, referencing, and plagiarism awareness.
3. To promote awareness of contemporary tools that enhance learning efficiency and academic productivity.
4. To bridge the gap between traditional academic practices and emerging digital technologies.

Activity Overview:

The PG Department of Food Technology (PGFT) conducted a two-hour session on the practical application of AI in project writing on 11 December 2025, commencing at 2 pm. The event coordinator and member of Research Development Cell (RDC), Dr Maria Cordeiro with the objective of enhancing students’ academic writing and research skills through the effective use of AI tools.

The session was delivered by Ms. Nezlyn D’Souza, Assistant Professor, PGFT, who introduced students to various AI-enabled tools that support different stages of academic writing. Students were trained in the use of tools for reference management, plagiarism checking, grammar correction, and conciseness, as well as in the effective use of Google Docs for collaborative writing.

Both PGFT faculty members actively facilitated the session by providing hands-on training, enabling students to apply AI tools in real time to project writing. The interactive nature of the session helped students gain confidence in using AI responsibly to enhance the quality, clarity, and originality of their academic work.

Outcomes of the Activity:

1. The students mentioned that the session was informative and that they got hands-on exposure to the tools that can help them in project writing.
2. Through this session, the students were made aware of the tools that could make the writing process easy for them.
3. The students understood tools that can improve clarity, coherence, and academic tone while maintaining their own scholarly voice, along with the use of AI tools for editing and proofreading, including grammar, style, and conciseness checks.

Beneficiaries: