 The cooperation began on 1 September 2009 and ended on 31 December 2014.From January 2013 to December 2014, Barke was president of the Niedersächsische Technische Hochschule.In 2012, he initiated more financing through private sponsorship, as state funding is not sufficient to match international standards – €17,000 per student and year in Hannover, compared to €30,000 at the University of Texas and €125,000 at Harvard.