Description

---

This book celebrates the practicality and relevance of vocational education, exploring themes such as skills development, career pathways, industry integration, and the role of vocational education in driving economic growth. Undergraduate students considering vocational paths gain insight into the benefits of vocational education in preparing for meaningful careers. Practitioners in vocational training appreciate the value of their work in equipping individuals with practical skills, making it highly relevant for educators in this field. Policymakers gain a deeper understanding of how vocational education bridges the gap between classroom learning and industry needs, and the general public becomes aware of the pivotal role vocational education plays in individual success and economic development.

About the Author

---

Karen Ang Manaig is the current Associate Dean of the College of Teacher Education at the Laguna State Polytechnic University, Los Banos Campus, Los Banos, Laguna. She holds a Doctor of Education and a Master of Arts in Education, both with a major in Educational Management from the same institution. Dr. Manaig is renowned for her prolific research work, with numerous research papers published in international refereed and Scopus-Indexed journals. Her contributions have received recognition at national and international levels, and she has presented her work at various conferences in Asian countries. Notably, her research papers on Google Scholar have garnered 159 citations (as of June 5, 2023), including six high indexes and four i10 indexes. Further, in August 2009, LSPU selected her as a Visiting Professor and Member of the Panel of Examiners for the Thesis Defense of Masters of Arts in English at Thai Nguyen University, Thai Nguyen City, Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam. Additionally, one of her research papers was recognized as the Best Research Paper in the Natural and Applied Science Category at the Research Excellence Awards during the 3rd International Research Conference on Higher Education, organized by the Commission on Higher Education, Department of Science and Technology-NCR, Philippine Higher Education Research Consortium, Asia Pacific Consortium of Researchers and Educators Inc. (APCORE), and Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in 2015. Her influence on education extends beyond her research and publications. She actively serves as an accreditor for the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP) and as an assessor in the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Region IV-A Regional Quality Assessment Team (RQAT) for the Teacher Education Cluster. Currently, she is a member of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Business and Economic Affairs. Moreover, she contributes as a Peer Reviewer for the International Journal on Research in STEM Education and the Ho Chi Minh City Open University Journal of Social Sciences, an ASEAN Citation Indexed journal.