By Ann M. Koenig, AACRAO International Education Services
Allianze University College of Medical Sciences (AUCMS), a private higher education provider headquartered in Panang, Malaysia, has purchased a campus site in London and is planning to expand its offerings. While the new campus in London initially will offer a study abroad opportunity for students from its campuses in Malaysia, AUCMS eventually plans to seek authorization from United Kingdom (UK) authorities to become a recognized British university and from the UK General Medical Council to be permitted to award a British medical degree.
AUCMS was established as Allianze College of Medical Sciences in 2002. Its medical degree programs are offered in collaboration with a Malaysian public university, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, and an Indonesian public university, Universitas Sumatera Utara. In addition to medical education, it offers a bachelor's degree in environmental health, a bachelor's degree in business administration, and a number of diploma programs in healthcare-related fields and business administration. However, not all of these programs appear to be accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Authority. To confirm the accreditation status of programs offered by AUCMS, check the Malaysian Qualification Agency's list of accredited programs in the Malaysian Qualifications Register. ACUMS is listed under Private Institutions, University Colleges."
For education completed in Malaysia, AACRAO International Education Services recommends that only programs accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Authority should be considered comparable to programs offered at regionally-accredited institutions in the United States.
AACRAO EDGE, AACRAO's Electronic Database for Global Education provides extensive information about education in Malaysia and 200+ other countries, including educational system ladders, credential names and evaluation recommendations, grading scales, institution information, and resource links.
Sources:
University World News
http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20130830115148971
Allianze University College of Medical Sciences (AUCMS)
http://www.allianzeunicollege.edu.my/portal/
Malaysian Qualifications Agency
http://www.mqa.gov.my/
Malaysian Qualifications Register
http://www.mqa.gov.my/MQR/english/eperutusan.cfm
United Kingdom Department for Business, Innovation & Skills: Recognised UK Degrees
https://www.gov.uk/recognised-uk-degrees
United Kingdom General Medical Council
http://www.gmc-uk.org/
AACRAO International Education Services
http://ies.aacrao.org/
AACRAO EDGE
http://edge.aacrao.org