Proxy and VPN Networks questions.

[Shake&Bake]

I was wondering about something.

I've got the following IP's.

141.26.160.9 - belonging to UNIVERSITAET KOBLENZ-LANDAU (ABT. KOBLENZ) GHRKO KOBLENZ.
139.18.118.9 - belonging to UNIVERSITY OF LEIPZIG
128.176.151.198 - belonging to UNIVERSITAET MUENSTER .

They're all VPN's of each university.
Now I'm not asking how to make use of these proxies or VPN's.
I want to know if it is possible to make use of them.
Don't need to know how.

I've just got an instance at the office where these IP's are being used by certain people and I find it weird that they are all making use of IP's that belong to universities.

Is it really that simple to sniff and access university proxies?
Can these examples I've given be used as proxies?

Please note again, I'm not looking for hacking or proxy tips, just wanting to know if these instances I've mentioned can be used to mask a PC's original IP's.

Please excuse my noobness
Thanks for any advice you may have.

 

[wizzard]

Yea they can. I have a hamachi vpn setup to home that I use at work when the work proxy is giving trouble and I need to test stuff

 

[Shake&Bake]

Anyone got some more?
I've got possible fraudsters making use of these IP's.
I just want to know if they can be proxied.
I don't know how to go about it, just interested in catching a trend that fraudsters use.

Thanks