The reform was based on recommendations by a governmental committee (the Shochat Committee) in 2007 (see Box 1.4.). Around 60% of additional resource requirements would have been funded by higher state budget transfer and the remainder by increases in other revenues, most notably greater income from tuition fees. These included: i) returning the budget to its 2001 level, ii) raising student tuition by 50%, iii) expanding the support system for students from lower socio-economic backgrounds, iv) merging existing colleges and v) recruiting new faculty in order to enhance the quality of instruction and research.