Maria do Céu Roldão has a bachelor degree in History, University of Lisbon, and holds a PhD in Education in the area of Curricular Theory and Development, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada. She is Aggregated Professor by Universidad de Aveiro and since 2011 is a Visiting Associate Professor at Universidade Católica Portuguesa.

Maria do Céu Roldão has collaborated as a teacher and as a researcher with several national and international universities.

She has participated in several OECD projects in representation of the Institute of Educational Innovation, of which she has been vice-president, and has worked as a consultant in Unesco projects for Latin America, as well as in cooperation projects with Mozambique, Angola and Cape Verde. Was Vice-President of the Institute for Educational Innovation (1997-1998) and the Polytechnic Institute of Santarém (1996-97).

Céu Roldão was, in several contexts, a consultant to the Ministry of Education in the area of the curriculum. Was a member of the Evaluation Commissions of the Portuguese Universities for the Courses of Early Childhood Educators and 1st Cycle Teachers in 2000 and 2005, and joined the Scientific Council of Teacher Evaluation throughout its existence.

She is a member of the Editorial Boards of 11 national and international magazines, and scientific publications in these fields include 22 books, and organization or co-organization of 9 books, 62 articles in scientific journals and 64 chapters in books in the area of Education.