The General Council is one of the governing bodies of Politécnico de Lisboa (IPL), consisting of 33 elements:
- 17 professors and researchers;
- 5 students; 1 employee;
- 10 are invited external personalities.
The promotion of community insertion linked to professional and business activities, corresponding to the acting area of IPL schools, and contributing to a solid vocational training in higher education, are the main goals of the presence of these external members.