A "new wave" of universities is emerging that is redefining higher education and consigning the old axis of elite and non-elite to history. The claim was made by Bob Burgess, vice-chancellor of the University of Leicester, before this week's publication of performance indicators for widening participation and non-continuation rates by the Higher Education Statistics Agency. Professor Burgess argued that Leicester was at the vanguard of a movement typified by a shift away from a focus solely on teaching and research, to one in which more weight is put on exceeding targets for improving access and enhancing the student experience.