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Essentials Careers Gaining experience RED Awards RED Professional Development Award What is the RED Professional Development Award? 

What is the RED Professional Development Award? 

Experience the long-term benefits of the skills and experience you can achieve through RED.

The Reading Experience and Development (RED) Professional Development Award is one of the University of Reading's Official Skills Awards. It is designed to help Reading students make the most of the extra-curricular activities and experiences on offer outside of the academic programme.  

Endorsed by graduate employers, students who complete the RED award are 68% more likely to secure a job by the final year compared to those that do not.  

Why do it?  

  • Gain formal recognition for your extra-curricular activities  
  • Understand what employers look for and reflect on your strengths  
  • Build transferable skills in a way that works for you  
  • Enhance your CV and boost your graduate prospects  
  • Expand your network and increase your confidence  
  • Receive a certificate that can be used on LinkedIn; the completion will also be added to your diploma supplement annex and the graduation brochure  

How do I complete it? 

The award is made up of two stages: Points Submission and Advocacy. To complete the award, you’ll need to: 

  • Earn 25 points through a range of extra-curricular activities 
  • Reflect on what you’ve learned, highlighting how these experiences have developed your professional skills and employability 
  • Complete a short post-award survey to reflect on your overall experience 

Ready to get started?

Check out our: Completing the RED Professional Development Award page

If you are debating whether to complete the award, I would say just go for it! You will have the opportunity to interact with new people from a wide range of backgrounds which will improve your skills and confidence.

Georgina Hill
RED Award 2023

The RED award gave me the chance to be involved in extra-curricular activities, proving my time in the UK was spent wisely working on myself. It improved my confidence in communicating and sharing opinions with people of different ages and diversity.

Ugiloy Kurbonova
RED Award 2023
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