The mission of the Department is to promote Geography within the Eastern Cape and southern Africa as an integrative and relevant discipline that can play a central role in guiding and affecting environmental and development related policies.

The Department aims to produce graduates who are self-motivated, independent, critical thinkers who have aquired a specialist knowledge within a broad geographical training, and who are equipped with the necessary skills with which to contribute to regional and national development.

Staff and students are encouraged to engage each other in both fundamental and applied research of an international calibre that is relevant to the needs of the African continent. The Department strives to maintain contacts with all tiers of government and community organisations, to assist and advise them through applied research.