EduLedger: A Hybrid Blockchain-IPFS Framework for Academic Record Management

– The management of academic records remains constrained by centralized infrastructures, resulting in inefficiencies, data silos, and security vulnerabilities. This paper presents EduLedger, a hybrid academic record management framework that integrates Hyperledger Fabric, a permissioned blockchain, with the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) for decentralized off-chain storage. Addressing the core challenges of scalability, fine-grained access control, and regulatory compliance, EduLedger employs a hierarchical RBAC-ABAC access model, GDPR-compliant data revocation, and RAFT consensus for efficient transaction processing. Smart contracts enforce transcript lifecycle operations and role-based permissions, while IPFS ensures tamper-proof, content-addressed storage of large academic files. The system’s modular architecture supports cross-institutional data sharing and auditability without compromising privacy or performance. Through this integration, EduLedger offers a scalable, secure, and legally compliant alternative to traditional academic record systems, establishing a new benchmark for digital credentialing in education.