When Jason Overland heard that studying a Master of Business Administration required plenty of drive, he took it rather literally.

Mr Overland, 51, used skills he learned in a subject on entrepreneurship at USC to stage last year’s Australian launch of the high-tech Aero Supercar – a prototype racing vehicle manufactured on the Gold Coast by ex-Formula One engineer Barry Lock.

The cocktail event at Caloundra was sold out, raising the profile of the Aero Supercar (www.aerosupercars.com) and at the same time raising funds for the charity Inclusive Kids.

Mr Overland said he hoped the innovative, two-door, two-seater performance race car, featured in Wheels magazine and expected to retail for $240,000, would find its place in the Australian motor racing landscape.

He said he chose USC’s MBA because of its focus on leadership and entrepreneurship, and because of its flexibility.

“I started an MBA part-time at USC in 2015 for my ongoing professional development,” he said. “Being able to combine my studies with my motorsport interests has been fantastic.

“I used the introduction of the Aero Supercar as my case study in Dr Rod Farr-Wharton’s ‘Entrepreneurship and New Venture Planning’ course, and applied the lessons learned to get the race car launched and on to the market.

“I could engage directly with my lecturer and gain real-world exposure in how to market an innovative, high-end product like the Aero Supercar,” he said.

Mr Overland has also enjoyed a family connection while studying at USC, with his daughters completing separate degrees in Psychology and Occupational Therapy.

For details about USC’s MBA, go to Master of Business Administration.

USC is holding a Try EMBA and MBA for a Day on Friday 19 October to give business professionals a chance to sample the University’s Executive MBA program.

- Julie Schomberg