He was awarded the degree of DSc by the University of Manchester in 1990 for published work on the analysis and design of computer integrated manufacturing systems.
He was elected Dean of the Faculty of Engineering in 1995 and Registrar and Deputy President of the University in 2000.
He published 11 books and over 400 papers; including 'Production Management Systems - An Integrated Perspective', 2nd edition Prentice Hall, 1996, which was translated into French, 'Les Systemes de production dans un environment CIM' and published by AFNOR (1994); 'CAD CAM Principles, Practice and Manufacturing Management, Addison-Wesley, 1988, subsequently translated into Chinese by Prentice Hall.
Browne has received the title of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques from the French Ambassador in Ireland, H.E.
The couple have four sons: Lorcan, Shane, Ronan and Fergus, all of whom attended St Joseph's Patrician College and all of whom became engineering graduates during Browne's time as President of University of Galway.