As part of the Industry Academia Connect, the Department of Computer Science was invited by SJ Innovation, a company based in Verna, for a session on “AI Agent Building” on 14th February 2025, from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM at their company premises. The session was attended by 22 students from the BCA and BVoc.(ST) programmes and 03 faculty members.
The session commenced with Mr. Abesh Shirodkar, Technical Lead, who provided an overview of SJ Innovation, its industry presence, and the objective of the session. Following this, Mr. Akshay Naik, Technical Lead, introduced the participants to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its real-world implications. He began by explaining the fundamentals of AI, ensuring that students understood the key terminologies and concepts involved in AI tools
Mr. Akshay emphasized the significance of building a strong foundation in AI-related concepts during college to enhance career prospects. He also discussed the impact of DeepSeek on the market and highlighted the importance of understanding Large Language Models (LLMs) and Generative AI. He was very approachable and happy to interact with students for being aware about the various topics and current trends and updates in the field of AI.
A key highlight of the session was the demonstration of CollabAI, where Mr. Akshay explained Agent Building using prompt engineering necessary for getting the right output from an AI Agent. He showcased various AI-generated creations, including an anime-style adaptation of ‘Game of Thrones’, illustrating how well-structured prompts can yield high-quality AI-generated outputs. The session concluded at 12:45 PM with an engaging Q&A session.
Additionally, faculty members had the opportunity to interact with three alumni of the college currently employed at SJ Innovation – Mr. Abesh Shirodkar, Mr. Vinay Mahale and Mr. Pranav – All three alumni are graduates of the BCA programme at our college.
The Industry Academia Connect – Field Trip was highly appreciated by students, as they gained valuable insights into AI Agent Building and received access to the CollabAI platform and Community of SJ Innovation for continued learning and experimentation. This initiative successfully bridged the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, providing students with real-world exposure to AI technologies.
Faculty In-charges for the Industry Academia Connect – Fieldtrip were Asst. Prof. Annette Santimano, Asst. Prof. Samira Vengurlekar and Asst. Prof. Sweta P. Shet Verenkar.
Expected Outcome of the Activity
The activity enhanced students’ interest and knowledge in Artificial Intelligence, focusing on AI chatbots, Agent Building, and Prompt Engineering. It also improved their ability to analyze AI-generated code using foundational programming skills. Additionally, interaction with SJ Innovation mentors provided valuable guidance for developing mini AI agents as future project work.
