The National Postgraduate Committee of the United Kingdom was a charitable organisation which represented postgraduates at UK universities. In 2009 it voted to dissolve itself and merge with the National Union of Students. NPC was formed by affiliation from student representative bodies across the United Kingdom and seeks, in the words of its constitution, "to advance, in the public interest, the education of postgraduate students within the United Kingdom" through representation, lobbying, contribution to public policy debate, initiating communication between relevant parties and bringing key issues and potential solutions to wider audiences. The organisation's motion to dissolve and engage in merger talks with NUS cited several reasons for the organisation's winding up, including "the increased capacity of the NUS with regards to that organisation's ability to meet the needs of postgraduates, and that likelihood that this capacity will increase." Other organisations cited additional reasons which led to NPC's dissolution, including financial and management difficulties.
History
The NPC was formed in the 1980s as a network of officers. In 1990, recognising that at that time the National Union of Students was not well set up to represent the particular issues postgraduate faced nationally it held its first conference at the University of Cambridge; Chris Whitty was elected chair. Following this a growth in activity ensued, leading to the adoption of formal structures. It adopted its first constitution in 1992, the same year that it created the full-time post of General Secretary and began its affiliation scheme. The NPC sought charitable status for a number of years and obtained this in 2002, following the passing of a new constitution. Past General Secretaries:
The majority of NPC's work was conducted by the General Secretary who worked full-time; there were 14 other voluntary officers on the executive to assist in the general running of the organisation. Income was derived from affiliation fees by several student representative bodies in the United Kingdom along with a small number of donations. The Journal of Graduate Education was an academic journal established by the NPC in 1994. It was incorporated with the now-defunct International Journal of Graduate Education in 2008.
